• Maria Elvira Salazar warns fellow Republicans Latinos are abandoning the party
• Cites Nov. 2025 election results as wake-up call for GOP
• Urges party to embrace Latino community that shares conservative values

MIAMI, FL (TDR) — U.S. Representative Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL) warned fellow Republicans in November that Latinos are leaving the GOP, telling colleagues “if we don’t deliver, we’ll lose that historic support” and urging immediate action to embrace the community before the shift becomes permanent.

Salazar Sounds Alarm After Nov. Losses

Speaking to the House GOP Conference Nov. 12, Salazar cited 2025 election results that showed Democrats making gains among Latino voters compared to 2024, according to Pew Research Center exit polls.

“A year ago, Latinos made GOP history. But if we don’t deliver, we’ll lose that historic support. Yesterday’s results speak for themselves. To my fellow Republicans: let’s act now and embrace the community that shares our values, before our chance is gone for good.” —Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar, Nov. 12, 2025

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Salazar’s district—Florida’s 28th—flipped Democratic by 3 points in the Nov. 5 municipal races, the first GOP loss in the seat since 2020.

Data Behind the Warning

Pew’s post-election survey found 47 percent of Latino voters backed GOP candidates in 2024, but that dropped significantly in 2025 local races.

Among Latino women, the shift was steeper: 41 % GOP support in 2024 vs. 34 % in 2025.

“We are watching a realignment in real time—economic anxiety is trumping cultural conservatism.” —Mark Hugo Lopez, Pew Research Center, Nov. 11, 2025

Economic Anxiety Top Concern

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Latino Decisions post-election poll shows inflation and housing costs now outrank immigration and abortion as Latino voter priorities.

• 61 % cite groceries and rent as top worry;
• Only 28 % list immigration enforcement as primary concern;
• 54 % say GOP tax policies favor the wealthy over working families.

“Republicans talk socialism, but Latinos feel prices. If we don’t have a kitchen-table answer, we lose.” —Salazar, private caucus audio, Nov. 12, 2025

Florida Losses Ripple

Miami-Dade County shifted Democratic in the Nov. 5 mayoral race; Hialeah, once a GOP Latino stronghold, split 50-50.

Florida GOP internal memo admits “Latino support softening in 2026 battlegrounds” and urges $3 million early-media buy targeting borrowing costs and small-business loans.

House GOP Response Mixed

Conference Chair Elise Stefanik (R-NY) endorsed Salazar’s warning, scheduling a Latino listening tour in Phoenix, Las Vegas and Philadelphia for Dec. 2025.

“We can’t let socialism win the barrio—Maria is right, we need an economic message that lands.” —Stefanik, Nov. 13, 2025

Hard-liners pushed back; Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) tweeted “Culture beats coupons—stay pro-life, pro-gun, anti-socialism.”

Democrats Seize Opening

DCCC Chair Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) launched a $5 million Latino outreach blitz Nov. 14, highlighting GOP votes against child-tax-credit expansion and rent-cap bills.

“Republicans had the votes to cut grocery taxes—they chose tax breaks for billionaires. We won’t let Latinos forget.” —Bonamici, Nov. 14, 2025

Salazar’s Road Map

Salazar handed caucus leaders a five-page memo calling for:

• Small-business micro-loans under 6 percent interest;
• Vocational-training tax credits for skilled-trades programs;
• Spanish-language economic-town-hall tours before primary season;
• Opposition to any federal rent-control pre-emption.

She warned that “culture-war alone won’t pay the mortgage.”

What Comes Next

House GOP will vote Dec. 3 on Latino Small-Business Tax Relief Act—a Salazar-authored package of $2.5 billion in loan guarantees and accelerated depreciation for Latino-owned firms.

“If we can’t pass this, we deserve to lose the House.” —Salazar, Nov. 15, 2025

Democrats plan counter-messaging around GOP opposition to child-tax-credit expansion and rent-cap bills, ensuring economic policy will dominate Latino outreach through 2026 primary season.

Will Republicans pivot to pocket-book issues fast enough to recapture Latino trust, or will economic anxiety cement a generational shift toward Democrats?

Sources

This report was compiled using information from the House Small-Business Tax Relief Act text, Pew Research Center Latino exit poll, Latino Decisions post-election survey, CNN Latino vote analysis, Florida GOP internal memo, DCCC Latino outreach plan, Miami-Dade County election returns, House GOP listening tour schedule, and Washington Post caucus audio report.

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