Tip Sheets
A new political landscape: Hispanic voters, Trump's transactional politics
November 6, 2024
Media Contact
Damien Sharp
As election results continue be released, political experts are analyzing the implications of last night’s results as well as the political realignment among key demographics in exit polls. The following Cornell University experts are available for interviews.
Gustavo Flores-Macías, professor of government and public policy, says with about 45% of Hispanics voting for Trump, we’re witnessing an important realignment of a group previously thought to be squarely within the coalition supporting Democratic candidates.
Dan Lamb, politics expert, former congressional aide for 15 years and senior lecturer at the Cornell Brooks School of Public Policy, says time will tell if American voters intended such redirection on so much policy.
Gustavo A. Flores-Macías
Professor of Government
“With about 45% of Hispanics voting for Trump according to exit polls, this constitutes an important realignment of a group previously thought to be squarely within the coalition supporting Democratic candidates. Concerns about the economy, crime, government overreach and cultural issues are among the main concerns leading this realignment. This outcome should make Democrats think hard about the extent to which their policies resonate with Hispanics, a group that will continue to be crucial to win elections in the future.”
Dan Lamb
Senior Lecturer
“Yesterday was a victory for Trump’s style of transactional politics and governing. The GOP victory carries vast implications for domestic and foreign policy. At the national level, American voters appear to have chosen a roller-coaster ride over incremental progress. In his victory speech, Trump asserted his new motto, ‘promises made, promises kept.’ This implies his intentions for mass deportations, expansive tariffs, tax cuts for the wealthy, pardons for January 6 criminals, and ending support for Ukraine, among many other divisive policies. Time will tell if American voters really intended such redirection on so much policy.
“New York state bucked the national trends, as it did in 2022. Vice President Harris outperformed Governor Hochul’s 2022 results and Democrats gained several congressional seats lost in 2022. The state’s Equal Rights Amendment, which affirms the right to abortion and ensures other equal rights protection, passed easily. This is a validating outcome for the governor and the state Democratic Committee, which invested heavily in the races.”
