Linares thinks the identity problem he refers to is the reason why a lot of Hispanic individuals don’t feel included and often might feel targeted by political rhetoric.
“I think it is unfortunate that a lot of Hispanics… especially among young people like, 18 to 25-year-olds, choose the Democrat Party and think that they support them only because they are definitely put off by a lot of the anti-immigration rhetoric that the Republican Party has. They think that they are being targeted just because they’re of Hispanic origin,” he said.
Despite Linares’ concerns about Hispanic voters aligning with the Democratic Party due to anti-immigration rhetoric, he emphasized a deeper connection to shared American values, regardless of ethnic background.
”We have more in common with our neighbors, whether they’re of African American origin or European origin or Hispanic origin… we have more in common with them, our fellow Americans, than we do with a Cuban or Uruguayan who we’ve never met back in our countries of origin,” he said.
He also expressed that the reason he and his family are voting for Trump is because they see in him a support of Christian and conservative values.
Lukah Meirelles, a theater major at FAU, expressed that his Latino identity has been a source of pride, though he’s concerned about certain cultural shifts. “I see terms like ‘Latinx’ and feel they’re just not respectful to our language or culture. We have bigger issues to worry about, like affordable housing and safety,” he said.
According to a Boston University article, Latinx is a gender-neutral term for people of Latin American heritage, which emerged in the early 2000s within U.S. activist and academic circles. It is designed to replace the masculine “Latino” and feminine “Latina.”
A growing voting block divided
According to the NALEO Educational Fund, 2.5 million Latinos are registered to vote in Florida, comprising 18% of all registered voters. Voter turnout among Hispanic individuals is expected to rise by nearly 14% compared to the last election cycle. One in five eligible voters in Florida is Hispanic. FAU Latino students recognized the importance of their vote and seemed divided.
With just over a month before the November general election, Mason-Dixon Polling & Strategy surveyed Florida’s Hispanic voters from Sept. 23 to Sept. 25 on who they would vote for. With a seven-point lead, voters back Donald Trump over Kamala Harris. The biggest difference the poll found is between Cuban voters, who favor (61%) Trump, and Puerto Rican voters, who favor Harris by 58%
Prices, inflation and the general feeling that the economy worsened are common feelings the interviewees shared.
Meirelles said he’ll be voting for Trump because he promised to lower the cost of living, as he and his family are struggling financially.
“It has been extremely tough for me lately when it comes to shopping for groceries or trying to buy a house because my mother and I were trying to buy property here in the state, and it’s been a challenge for us… it’s just gone up and in the past 10 years, and it’s just gotten to a point where it’s just not realistic for us,” he said. “And I have two jobs… I’m barely getting by, and that’s just not a way of living.”.
For Yisset Hardy, an FAU student born in the Dominican Republic, the background and heritage she comes from shape the way she views America’s political landscape.
Yisset Hardy during the National Model United Nations representing Florida Atlantic University Diplomacy Program 2024.
“My background allows me to see how the political issues in developing countries often reflect a lack of attention to the needs of the people, particularly in terms of economic development, security and governance,” Hardy expressed. “These issues mirror the political struggles I’ve witnessed in my native country, which has made me more conscious of the need for strong, effective policies and leadership.”
She also said economic and foreign relations policies are the biggest issues that drove her to vote for Trump.
“I’ve decided to vote for Donald Trump because I believe his policies align more closely with the direction I think the country should be heading,” she wrote in an email to the UP. “This is not my first time voting — it’s my third as a naturalized American citizen. I strongly believe in voting for policies, not just people. My experience as a Latina influences my perspective compared to other Americans, as I am particularly sensitive to issues of government mismanagement and inefficiency due to what I witnessed growing up.”
Despite varying levels of enthusiasm, the young Latino voters at FAU reflect a key demographic that political campaigns cannot afford to ignore. As November approaches, these students’ voices highlight the diversity of thought within the Latino community, as well as the complex blend of identity, heritage and policy concerns that shape their views on voting.
For many young Latinos, the 2024 election represents both a responsibility and an opportunity to make their voices heard on a national stage.
This story is in the UP’s latest print issue, “Historic Election,” which can be found in the distribution boxes around the Boca Raton campus or in the Student Union room 214.
Sofia De La Espriella is the Editor-in-Chief of the University Press. Email [email protected] or message her on Instagram @sofidelaespriella for information regarding this or other stories.
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Publish date : 2024-10-30 07:25:00
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