Latinas were less likely to back Trump but their slide to the right helped fuel his reelection

Published November 2, 2026 6:00AM (EST)

Democratic candidate for Texas governor Gina Hinojosa speaks during Democratic state Rep. James Talarico's New American Dream Tour in Killeen, Texas, on Friday, August 14, 2026. (Photo by Joel Angel Juarez for The Washington Post via Getty Images)

This story was originally published by The 19th .

This story was originally reported by Mel Leonor Barclay of The 19th . Meet Mel and read more of their reporting on gender, politics and policy .

RIO GRANDE CITY, Texas — When Cynthia Villareal voted for President Donald Trump in 2024, she did so trusting his campaign promises of lower gas prices, border security and “assistance for the people — for the middle class.”

The 43-year-old mother of four turned out for Trump alongside a sizable majority of voters in heavily Latino Starr County, which hugs the border with Mexico and had reliably turned out for Democratic candidates…