Texas Hispanic Voters Drive a Historic Statewide Shift as Grocery Bills, Property Taxes and ICE Overreach Shape the Vote

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TEXAS — Property taxes are rising, electric bills are climbing and state leaders are weighing a challenge about the rights of undocumented children to attend public school. Against that backdrop, Texas Latino voters went to the polls motivated by their families’ struggles to build a future here. According to Texas findings from the 2026 Midterm Election Voter Poll released by UnidosUS, Latino voters backed Democratic candidates for the U.S. House 65% to 33%, a 10-point gain over Kamala Harris’ 55% in 2024. In the Rio Grande Valley, support reached 71% for House Democrats and 74% for the Democratic Senate candidate. Nearly two-thirds (64%) say the country is headed in the wrong direction, and 61% rank the cost of living and inflation among their top issues. More than eight in 10 (83%) say ICE actions have gone over the line, and 79% support the right of every child in the U.S., regardless of immigration status, to attend public school from kindergarten through 12th grade. 

“Two years ago, Texas Latino families were worried about making ends meet. This year, they were worried about making ends meet and about whether their neighbors, coworkers or loved ones would be the next ones taken away,” said Eric Holguín, Texas state director for UnidosUS. “From the Valley to Houston to Dallas, that fear became personal, and it showed up at the ballot box. More than half of Texas Latino voters are living paycheck to paycheck or worse. Our community sent a clear message: Stop the cruelty and start lowering costs.” 

 

TOPLINES | Texas Hispanic Voters Demand Economic Relief and Accountability 

Texas 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 Texas Latino voters: 

  • 61% 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%), health care costs (31%), immigration reform and ICE (31%) and the cost of gas (30%). 
  • Groceries (61%), housing (38%), gasoline (38%), utilities (33%) and health care and prescription drugs (32%) lead their cost-of-living concerns. 
  • On housing, high utility costs and property taxes (44%) top the list of concerns voters want elected officials to address, ahead of rising rents (37%). 
  • More than half (55%) have nothing left over at the end of the month, struggle to make ends meet or face major financial troubles. Nearly half (48%) expect President Trump’s economic policies to leave them worse off next year, compared with 18% who expect to be better off. 

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

  • Nearly two-thirds (65%) view President Trump unfavorably, and 60% view Republicans in Congress unfavorably. 
  • About seven in 10 disapprove of his handling of inflation and the cost of living (72%), immigration enforcement and ICE (71%) and the war with Iran (70%); 65% disapprove of his handling of the economy and jobs. 
  • 31% say the Republican Party cares a great deal about the Latino community, compared with 63% for the Democratic Party. Thirty-four percent say Republicans don’t care too much about Latinos, and 34% say they are being hostile toward them. 

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

  • Nearly nine in 10 (89%), including 89% of Republicans and 89% 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 (83%) say ICE actions have gone over the line, including 58% who are angry at ICE’s aggressive, violent actions and lack of accountability and say they need to be stopped. 
  • 79% support allowing all children, including undocumented children, to attend public school from kindergarten through 12th grade. 
  • 74% support requiring ICE agents to wear identifiable uniforms and body cameras, prohibiting masks and restricting the use of force. 

On the Texas Vote — Latino voters deliver strong support for Democratic candidates: 

  • Texas Latino voters backed Democrat James Talarico over Republican Ken Paxton 66% to 30% and Democrat Gina Hinojosa over Republican Greg Abbott 63% to 33%. 
  • Democratic House candidates won 65% to 33%, 10 points more than Harris’ 55% in 2024, with every region and subgroup favoring Democrats. 
  • In the Rio Grande Valley, Talarico won Latino voters 74% to 23%, and House Democrats won 71% to 28%. Young Latinas were Talarico’s strongest group: Women ages 18–39 backed him 72% to 23%. 
  • Crossover ran overwhelmingly one way: 19% of Texas Latinos who voted for Trump in 2024 backed Talarico, 17% backed Democratic House candidates and 15% backed Hinojosa. Only 4% of Harris voters backed Republicans in each race. 

On Political Engagement — A fast-renewing electorate: 

  • Nearly half (46%) of Texas Latino voters cast their first general election ballot in 2022 or later, including 22% who voted for the first time this year. Among voters under 30 years old, 81% are new since 2022. 
  • 63% were contacted about registering or voting: 34% by Democrats, 28% by Republicans, 12% by nonpartisan or civic organizations and 7% by Latino community organizations. 
  • More than one in three (37%) were not contacted by anyone, a missed opportunity for both parties. 

On Democracy and Civil Rights — Concern runs deep: 

  • More than eight in 10 are concerned that Congress (81%) and the Supreme Court (84%) are not checking the President. 
  • Nearly three in four (73%) say civil rights and liberties are under threat or no longer secure. 
  • Nearly two-thirds (63%) 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 | Texas Hispanic Voters Want Elected Officials to Deliver 

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: 

  • 81% support creating a universal childcare or early childhood education program at low or no cost to families of all incomes. 
  • 80% support passing a new Voting Rights Act so all eligible citizens can vote without barriers. 
  • 79% support a path to permanent legal status and citizenship for long-residing undocumented immigrants who pass a background check and pay a fine. 
  • 77% support restoring the Affordable Care Act tax credits that help families buy health insurance. 
  • 75% support regulating artificial intelligence (AI) so that humans, not AI systems, stay in control of military weapons, banks and Americans’ personal information. 
  • 74% support restoring full federal funding for food and nutrition programs (SNAP) cut in 2025. 
  • 68% support canceling the $240 billion appropriation to ICE and investing it in other government programs. 
  • 65% support reversing the 10-year, $1 trillion cut to Medicaid enacted in 2025. 

Texas’ Latino electorate is young, growing and not guaranteed to any party. These voters showed in 2026 that they will shift their support, and they expect elected officials in Austin 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 Texas 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 Texas webinar.  
  • Click HERE to see a slide presentation of the Texas toplines.  
  • Click HERE to view Texas 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.