I did a lot of soul-searching before writing this editorial because I knew it would anger some of my activist friends in SoCal Chicano communities. But as an advocate myself supporting Hispanic social issues for over 50 years, I have to speak my mind based on statistical facts.
Kamala Harris ran an amazing whirlwind campaign. It was unfortunate that she was given only four months to run for president, not really enough time for folks to get to know her. Joe Biden’s reluctance to toss in the towel earlier when he was clearly suffering from dementia didn’t do Harris any favors. However, Kamala also fumbled the ball when she appeared on “The View” and mentioned that she was involved in most of Joe’s decisions and wouldn’t have done anything differently. That was a major blunder because Harris identified herself as the candidate of change. What change? Basically, she admitted to endorsing Biden’s views and policies.
The problem with the Harris platform was a message of joy and hope, but not enough substance. While her stance on reproductive rights was popular with women, she didn’t spend enough time addressing the economy and the southern border, which were the two core issues surrounding this election. In addition, Kamala got bogged down with government financed sex change operations for prison inmates, transgender rights, and forgivable small business loans for black entrepreneurs. None of this excited multi-generational Latin Americans, loyal Democrats for the most part and a reliable vote party leaders have taken for granted. For the first time in this past election, many Hispanics sat down at their kitchen table and wondered what the Democratic party has done for them lately.
The results were astonishing. According to an NBC News poll, Harris received a majority of 53% of the Hispanic vote, but Trump made a strong showing with 46%. That was a 13 point jump over 2020 when Biden ran for president. Also, a shocking majority of 51% of Latino men selected Trump while 36% of Latina women favored the president-elect. Those combined statistics made a substantial difference in why Trump would eventually win the overall popular vote. Even in deep blue states like California and New York, Trump enjoyed a bump in support and that helped fellow GOP candidates running for seats on Capital Hill.
When Trump spews his rhetoric and offensive adjectives about undocumented caravans, permanent residents living in border communities understand that he’s not talking about them. That’s why residents in most of those counties, at least in Texas, voted for Trump. During the first three years of the Biden administration, millions of illegal migrants of various nationalities overwhelmed border personnel and law enforcement. Without adequate housing or detention facilities, most of these folks were arrested, given court dates and released, at least until earlier this year when Biden tightened things up. And throughout her campaign, Harris had a difficult time dodging questions about this previous “open border” policy.
While Trump has promised mass deportations, that is more bluster than reality. Every president in the current century, Republican or Democrat, have expelled their share of immigrants. Even President Obama, who created legislation for our dreamers, was known in many circles by the nickname, “Deporter In Chief.” In Trump’s case, insiders have clarified that local law enforcement and ICE will be in charge of rounding up the “worst of the worse” who have committed serious crimes while in the country, and approximately one million migrants who have already received final determination notices.
Meanwhile back to the election, Kamala never had any particular accomplishments that voters could hang their hats on. She worked for an unpopular president who had an approval rating under 40% when we went to the polls or mailed in our ballots. She received a fair share of the Afro-American support, but less than Biden received in 2020. Trump was a controversial candidate up to his neck in legal problems. But people remember that when he was president, they had more money in their pocket to spend. That’s a big deal for middle class Latinos, and many decided that Donald Trump was the safer alternative. With Kamala Harris, the future seemed to be a gamble they were unwilling to risk.
P.S. Congratulations to my friend Marco Rubio, Florida’s senior senator who was selected to be our new Secretary of State. This is the most important government position ever secured by a Latino. Rubio has extensive foreign policy experience, and was an excellent choice.
