After missteps with some Hispanic voters in 2020, Biden faces pressure to get 2024 outreach right

In the 2020 elections, Joe Biden promised to put in significant effort to gain the support of Hispanic voters. However, a failed attempt at cultural engagement during a Hispanic Heritage Month event in Florida revealed the complexity of such outreach. The backlash underscores the difficulty of appealing across cultural lines, a challenge Biden and the Democratic party must overcome as they prepare for the 2024 elections.

Hispanic voters have consistently been a stronghold for Democrats, drawn by policy issues such as health care and the economy. However, recent polls suggest that Republicans are making headway with this demographic. It indicates that the Democrats need to reassess their approach to sustain their lead.

In recent midterm elections, Democrats saw a decline in support from Hispanic voters, falling from 66% in 2018 to 57% last year. Meanwhile, the percentage of Hispanic voters backing Republicans rose slightly.

Francis Suarez, the Republican Mayor of Miami, argues that Democrats have created an opportunity for Republicans by failing to connect with Hispanic voters. Suarez particularly criticizes the Democrats’ use of the term Latinx, a gender-neutral alternative to “Latino” and “Latina.”

Despite this, Democrats argue that they still hold an advantage in terms of policy. The party had anticipated a boost in electoral support due to demographic shifts within the Hispanic population, particularly a growing number of English-speaking, U.S.-born individuals.

However, a small shift towards Republicans among Hispanic voters could impact election results significantly, given that Hispanics constituted 62% of the growth in eligible voters between 2018 and the last elections. This emphasizes the importance of effective Hispanic outreach.

Notably, there has been an increase in support for Republicans among Hispanic communities in places like New Mexico and New York. Activists argue that unless Democrats revise their outreach strategy, this trend could persist.

Joe Biden’s 2020 campaign faced backlash for a number of cultural gaffes. Still, his supporters argue that Hispanic voters are more concerned with substantial policy changes than these incidents. They believe that the racially charged rhetoric from Republican candidates around immigration and border issues will work to the Democrats’ advantage.

While cultural gaffes are common across party lines, the damaging policies implemented by the Trump administration could potentially outweigh the significance of Hispanic voter outreach efforts. Despite this, the support for Republican candidates among Hispanic voters remained steady between 2018 and 2020.

Going forward, the Democratic party and its allies have intensified Hispanic outreach programs. The party has taken strides to ensure that their message resonates with the community, and they remain committed to constant improvement.

However, the Democrats still face challenges in the lead-up to the 2024 elections. Even though the Democrats had a win in Nevada with the reelection of the first Latina senator, Catherine Cortez Masto, the party needs to focus more on policy issues important to the Hispanic community such as affordable housing and health care.

While the Democrats can point to legislative accomplishments, including a significant public works package and increased federal spending on health care and green energy, Hispanic voters will likely expect further progress in policies that will improve the economy for them.

The Biden administration has taken steps to improve Hispanic outreach. Julie Chavez Rodriguez, granddaughter of civil rights icon Cesar Chavez, has been chosen to manage his reelection campaign, a move praised by many activists. Biden’s 2024 strategy, outlined in a memo by Rodriguez, promises to engage early and frequently with Hispanic voters and other key demographics.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Biden’s Hispanic outreach

More about Biden’s Hispanic outreach

• Joe Biden’s 2020 campaign
• Hispanic voters in the US
• Community Change Action
• US Hispanic Business Council
• Democratic Party
• Pew Research Center’s Hispanic trends
• Republican Party
• 2024 US Presidential election
• Biden’s Re-election campaign