On Monday, news emerged that a Latino voting surge is galvanizing this election cycle with record turnouts. This is largely being reported as great news for Hillary Clinton, while Donald Trump’s campaign is “rattled.” Are Hispanics taking a stand against the Republican presidential nominee, in part, over his controversial statements since the start of his campaign?
According to Politico , the Latino voting surge is occurring in a number of key states for the 2016 election. The explosive turnout of Latino voters in Florida, Nevada, and other states might be all it takes to sink Trump.
Preliminary estimations reveal that Latinos could be the ones who deliver the ultimate blow to Trump and the Republican Party.
According to the report, early vote numbers from battleground states comprised of large Hispanic populations are voting at a higher rate than they’ve done before. In past elections, they showed lower turnouts in comparison to white or black voters.
24% of Latinos voting early in Florida never votes before https://t.co/hkovrxIcYY
— Peter Beinart (@PeterBeinart) November 6, 2016
Some polls show that the Latino voting surge is supporting Hillary Clinton by “blowout margins,” which could take states away from Trump that are critical to the 270 electoral votes he needs to win.
On Friday, a huge surge of Democratic Latino voters turned out in Clark County, Nevada, the home of Las Vegas. Early votes from Hispanics came in record-breaking numbers that day. The Democratic lead in early voting was recorded as 72,000 ballots cast. Nevada political analyst Jon Ralston said that’s basically enough votes to declare the state a win for Clinton.
State GOP Chairman Michael McDonald reacted to the sudden Latino voting surge on Saturday by suggesting something behind the scenes was going on in reference to a certain group.”
“Last night, in Clark County, they kept a poll open till 10 o’clock at night so a certain group could vote,” McDonald said. “It wasn’t in an area that normally has high transition. The polls are supposed to close at 7. This was kept open till 10. Yeah, you feel free right now? Think this is a free or easy election?”
Trump made the comment after his rally in Reno on Saturday night that there might be illicit activities happening with “certain key Democratic polling locations in Clark County.”
The GOP presidential nominee continues the outcry that Americans have fallen victim to a “rigged system.” He’s desperately trying to drive home his message in several states on Monday before Election Day on Tuesday.
The Miami Herald reports that 565,000 Hispanics turned out in Florida on Saturday for early voting , which is a 100 percent surge over the 2012 election cycle, according to an analysis conducted by a science professor at the University of Florida.
Approximately 911,000 total votes have been registered from Latino voters in Florida, including absentee ballots. More than a third of those Hispanics didn’t vote in 2012.
Heavy also reports that the Latino voting surge is hitting other key states such as Arizona and North Carolina.
Trump has “almost certainly” lost Nevada amid surge of Latino votes in key states. https://t.co/a6YyJn65Xx pic.twitter.com/USjiKlTOoB
— Slate (@Slate) November 5, 2016
The stakes are so high in these states that just a few hundred votes will determine whether each one will vote in a Republican or Democratic president. If Florida goes to Clinton, Trump will likely lose the election.
A Wall Street Journal poll taken in September revealed that 65 percent of Hispanic voters favored Hillary Clinton over Donald Trump at 17 percent.
Many Latinos are offended at Trump’s inflammatory remarks calling illegal immigrants “rapists” and “murderers” and his cornerstone proposal to build a wall on the U.S.-Mexican border. His insults toward women have portrayed him as a misogynist. The Latino voting surge could be the determining factor in who becomes the next president.
[Featured Image by Gaston De Cardenes/Getty Images]
