Washington, DC – Below is a column by Maribel Hastings from America’s Voice en Español translated to English from Spanish. It ran in several Spanish-language media outlets earlier this week:
Just as opinion polls had predicted, the Democrats regained control of the Senate and the House of Representatives—not with a wave, but with a tsunami of votes in their favor across the country from voters fed up with Donald Trump’s policies, which have driven up the cost of living, hit their wallets, harmed families and communities, and cut or eliminated assistance programs, including subsidies to help pay for health insurance.
Undoubtedly, the protest vote prevailed against Trump and the Republicans in Congress who endorsed his chaotic agenda.
And one of the major stories of Election Day was the high turnout among Latino voters, who played a central role in the Democrats’ victories in key districts and states that Trump had won in 2024—motivated by the economy and also by their rejection of a violent immigration policy that has claimed lives and affected not only undocumented immigrants but also legal residents and citizens who have been victims of racial profiling.
In 2024, the increase in Hispanic votes for Trump helped him win the presidency. Two years later, that Latino vote joined forces with other sectors to punish him for the economic hardships caused by his public policies and for a deportation and detention machine they consider excessive.
For example, in Texas, Democrat James Talarico won the Senate seat by defeating former state attorney general and Trump ally Ken Paxton. There is no doubt that the Latino vote played a central role in a state where families have been affected by Republican policies—including on the immigration front—with detentions, deportations, and even deaths.
Trump’s gains among Latinos in the 2024 election—especially in the southern part of the state—vanished. Talarico condemned ICE’s actions. “This administration is failing us, with masked men in unmarked cars who are kidnapping and murdering our neighbors right before our eyes,” Talarico declared at a campaign event, according to La Opinión.
The Deportation Data Project reports that, as of July of this year, Texas accounted for one-third of all ICE arrests—the highest figure nationwide—not including the deaths at the hands of ICE agents of Mexican immigrant Lorenzo Salgado Araujo and U.S. citizen Rubén Ray Martínez.
It had been more than 33 years since a Democrat had won a Senate seat in Texas.
And that’s not all. Democrat Gina Hinojosa unseated Republican Greg Abbott, another of Trump’s key allies in defending anti-immigrant policies, as governor. And the Latino vote was vital.
It was also crucial in the victory of Tejano musician and Democrat Bobby Pulido over incumbent Republican Mónica de la Cruz, another advocate of Trump’s anti-immigrant policies.
In Kansas, Democratic Methodist pastor Adam Hamilton won a Senate seat for the first time in nearly a century. In California, Xavier Becerra won the governorship, becoming the first Hispanic governor since 1875.
Election Day 2026 told the story of voters disappointed with a president who, in 2024, won by promising to improve the economy and avoid getting embroiled in wars. But Trump launched a war against Iran for reasons that remain unknown or unclear, which has sent gasoline and other fuel prices skyrocketing. He also got involved in a tariff war that drove up the prices of goods and services for consumers.
His immigration policy, aside from being violent and cruel, also impacts the economy by driving out workers from key industries such as agriculture, construction, and services. This raises production costs and increases prices for consumers.
According to NBC News exit polls, 65% of voters believe Trump’s policies have worsened the economy, and 62% blame Trump for rising prices. Another 62% disapprove of the president’s performance, while only 38% approve.
A majority of voters said that Trump’s immigration policy is too extreme.
In conclusion, the midterm elections constituted a resounding rejection of Trump’s performance, his agenda, the Republican candidates he supported, his public policies that led to increases in the cost of living, and an immigration policy that voters rejected as cruel and excessive.
The results offer hope after two years of excesses, corruption, abuse of power, and impunity, particularly on the immigration front. All is not lost.
The “blue tsunami” is real, and starting in January 2027, voters expect a Democratic Congress to address their priorities and not get sidetracked while dealing with a Republican president for the next two years. Otherwise, their fortunes may change in 2028.
The original Spanish version is here.
