Florida Hispanic Voters Break for Democrats in Tight Statewide Races as Housing Costs, Insurance Bills and ICE Overreach Shape the Vote

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FLORIDA—Homeowners insurance premiums are among the highest in the nation. Rent and property taxes keep climbing, and immigration enforcement has reached deep into South Florida communities like Doral. Against that backdrop, Florida Latino voters went to the polls motivated by their families’ struggles to build a future in the state. According to Florida findings from the 2026 Midterm Election Voter Poll UnidosUS released, Latino voters backed Democratic candidates for the U.S. House 57% to 41%, an 8-point gain over Kamala Harris’ 49% in 2024.  

In statewide races decided by less than three points, Florida Latino voters backed Democrat Angie Nixon over Republican Ashley Moody 53% to 43% for U.S. Senate and Democrat David Jolly over Republican Byron Donalds 53% to 41% for governor. Six in 10 (60%) say the country is headed in the wrong direction, and 59% rank the cost of living and inflation among their top issues. More than eight in 10 (81%) say ICE actions have gone over the line, including 78% of Cuban American voters.

“Florida’s Latino voters sent a clear message this election: They are stretched to the limit, and they expect results,” said Jared Nordlund, Florida State Director for UnidosUS. “More than half say they have nothing left at the end of the month, and the cost of groceries, housing and utilities is at the top of their minds. They’re not asking for slogans or culture wars. They want lower costs, affordable childcare and health care they can count on. One in three Florida Latino voters has cast their first general election ballot since 2022, and among voters under 40, it’s more than half. This is a young, growing electorate that isn’t loyal to any party, and it will hold leaders in Tallahassee and Washington accountable for delivering.”

TOPLINES | Florida Hispanic Voters Demand Economic Relief and Accountability 

Florida Latino voters went to the polls focused on the costs squeezing their households and the enforcement tactics targeting their communities. 

On the Economy — Affordability is the defining issue for Florida Latino voters: 

  • 59% cite the cost of living and inflation as one of the top three issues elected officials should address, by far the leading concern, followed by jobs and the economy (35%), affordable housing and rent (33%), health care costs (33%) and immigration reform and ICE (26%). 
  • Groceries (49%), housing (46%), gasoline (39%), health care and prescription drugs (34%) and utilities (29%) lead their cost-of-living concerns. 
  • On housing, high utility costs and property taxes (41%) top the list of concerns voters want elected officials to address, followed by rising rents (31%) and the high cost of home insurance (28%). 
  • More than half (52%) have nothing left over at the end of the month, struggle to make ends meet or face major financial troubles. And 38% expect President Trump’s economic policies to leave them worse off next year, compared with 24% who expect to be better off. 
  • More oppose (47%) than support (40%) building data centers near their community. 

On the President and the Parties — Trump is underwater with Florida Latino voters: 

  • A majority (57%) view President Trump unfavorably, and 53% view Republicans in Congress unfavorably. 
  • Majorities disapprove of his handling of the war with Iran (65%), inflation and the cost of living (65%), immigration enforcement and ICE (62%) and the economy and jobs (59%). 
  • Only 38% say the Republican Party cares a great deal about the Latino community, compared with 55% for the Democratic Party. 34% say Republicans don’t care too much about Latinos, and 28% say they are being hostile toward them. 

On Immigration — Florida Latino voters reject ICE overreach and support a balanced system: 

  • More than nine in 10 (92%), including 89% of Republicans and 88% of Trump 2024 voters, want a balanced immigration system that includes an earned path to citizenship, accountable enforcement, legal immigration channels and border security. 
  • More than eight in 10 (81%) say ICE actions have gone over the line, including half (50%) who are angry at ICE’s aggressive and violent actions and lack of accountability and say they need to be stopped. Among Cuban American voters, 78% say ICE has gone over the line. 
  • 78% support requiring ICE agents to wear identifiable uniforms and body cameras, prohibiting masks and restricting the use of force. 
  • One in 10 (10%) saw immigration enforcement agents (ICE, DHS or CBP) near where they voted, including 16% of voters under 40. 

On the Florida Vote — Latino voters favor Democratic candidates in tight statewide races: 

  • Florida Latino voters backed Nixon over Moody 53% to 43% and Jolly over Donalds 53% to 41%. 
  • Democratic House candidates won 57% to 41%, 8 points more than Harris’ 49% in 2024, with every group measured favoring Democrats except Cuban American voters. Among Cuban Americans, Democrats won 39% of the House vote, up from Harris’ 35% in 2024. 
  • Latinas drove the margin: Women backed Nixon 60% to 36% and Jolly 60% to 34%, while Latino men narrowly favored Moody (52% to 44%) and Donalds (50% to 44%). 
  • Puerto Rican voters backed Democratic House candidates 62% to 37% and Jolly 59% to 34%. In the Orlando area, House Democrats won 60%. 
  • Crossover ran mostly one way: 12% of Florida Latinos who voted for Trump in 2024 backed Democratic House candidates and 12% backed Nixon, while 5% of Harris voters backed Republican House candidates and 7% backed Moody. 

On Political Engagement — A renewing electorate: 

  • One in three (34%) Florida Latino voters cast their first general election ballot in 2022 or later, including 11% who voted for the first time this year. Among voters under 40 years old, 52% are new since 2022. 
  • 56% were contacted about registering or voting: 26% by Democrats, 26% by Republicans, 13% by nonpartisan or civic organizations and 10% by Latino community organizations. 
  • More than four in 10 (44%) were not contacted by anyone, a missed opportunity for both parties. 

On Democracy and Civil Rights — Concern runs deep: 

  • Three in four are concerned that Congress (74%) and the Supreme Court (77%) are not checking the President. 
  • Two in three (67%) say civil rights and liberties are under threat or no longer secure. 
  • Nearly six in 10 (58%) worry that they, their families or their communities could be targeted by government policies because of their race, ethnicity, religion, language, immigration status or national origin. 

 

PRIORITIES | Florida Hispanic Voters Want Elected Officials to Deliver 

Florida Latino voters expect action on the economic pressures facing their families and the policies shaping their communities. Large majorities support action on household costs, immigration and the health of our democracy: 

  • 88% support creating a universal childcare or early childhood education program at low or no cost to families of all incomes. 
  • 84% support a path to permanent legal status and citizenship for long-residing undocumented immigrants who pass a background check and pay a fine. 
  • 83% support regulating artificial intelligence (AI) so that humans, not AI systems, stay in control of military weapons, banks and Americans’ personal information. 
  • 82% support restoring full federal funding for food and nutrition programs (SNAP) cut in 2025. 
  • 79% support restoring the Affordable Care Act tax credits that help families buy health insurance. 
  • 61% support blocking the use of public school funds for vouchers for tuition at private or religious schools. 

Florida’s Latino electorate is diverse, growing and not guaranteed to any party. These voters showed in 2026 that they will shift their support, and they expect elected officials in Tallahassee and Washington, DC to respond. For both parties, the path forward runs through sustained engagement and real results on the issues that matter most to Florida families. 

About the 2026 Midterm Election Voter Poll and U.S. Hispanic Findings

The 2026 Midterm Election Voter Poll is a collaboration of 16 national organizations committed to shedding light on voter priorities and sentiment across the American electorate. It includes American Indian, AAPI, Black, Hispanic and white voters, and was conducted from October 20 through November 2.

On the Hispanic voter front, BSP Research surveyed 3,014 Hispanic voters who cast a ballot in the 2026 midterm elections, in the voter’s chosen language. The national survey includes oversamples in Arizona, California, Florida, Michigan and Texas, and in U.S. House and Senate battlegrounds.   

  • Click HERE to watch a replay of the Florida webinar.  
  • Click HERE to see a slide presentation of the Florida toplines.  
  • Click HERE to view Florida crosstabs.  

 Methodology: 

  • Total N=3,014 Latino voters in the 2026 midterm election (+/- 1.8%) 
  • N=803 Battleground Congressional Districts (±3.5%) 
  • N=1,368 Battleground Senate States (±2.6%) 
  • N=844 Texas (including N=176 Rio Grande Valley) (±3.4%) 
  • N=516 Florida (±4.3%) 
  • N=337 Arizona (±5.3%) 
  • N=421 California (±4.8%) 
  • N=241 Michigan (±6.3%) 
  • Field Dates: October 20 – November 2, 2026. 
  • Survey available in English and Spanish, according to respondent preference. 
  • Administered via live phone, text invite and online panels. 
  • All respondents voted in the 2026 election. 

 

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About UnidosUS   

UnidosUS is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that serves as the nation’s largest Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization. Since 1968, we have built a stronger America by creating opportunities for Latinos and breaking down barriers to expand economic and social progress for all. UnidosUS partners with an Affiliate Network of nearly 300 community-based organizations across the United States and Puerto Rico. For more information on UnidosUS, visit www.unidosus.org or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X and Threads.

 

About BSP Research  

BSP Research is a Latino-owned polling, research, and analytics firm headquartered in Los Angeles, California. Founded in 2021 by Matt Barreto and Gary Segura, who have more than two decades of experience in national polling and research, BSP Research is a leading research and analytic firm with expertise on the political and social views of the American population and beyond. BSP has industry-leading expertise in culturally competent research on communities of color and other forms of disadvantage, and extensive experience in bilingual polling and data gathering from all varieties of communities.