The Latino Vote Latino Voters: The Midterms and Beyond - A USC Center for the Political Future Special. With Mike Murphy & Helen Torres
In this special edition of The Latino Vote Podcast, Chuck Rocha and Mike Madrid are joined by Helen Torres, CEO of Hispanas Organized for Political Equality (HOPE), and Mike Murphy, veteran Republican strategist, for a dynamic USC Center for the Political Future panel discussion on the fastest-growing and most consequential voting bloc in American politics: The Latino Voter.
The panel tackles the seismic shifts in Latino voting patterns, from the historic 22-point collapse in Democratic support to what this means for the 2026 midterms and beyond. Madrid, Rocha, and Torres dissect why this isn't a realignment but a "de-alignment" - with Latino voters becoming more anti-party and populist rather than more conservative.
Key topics include:
- The generational divide: English-dominant millennials vs. Spanish-speaking immigrants
- The gender gap and education split within the Latino electorate
- Why the economy wins over identity politics (and why "socialism" attacks don't work)
- The fatal flaw in Democratic strategy: chasing the Rust Belt while ignoring the new South
- How cultural competency beats micro-targeting
- Why Trump's working-class message resonated despite his anti-immigrant rhetoric
- What Democrats must do to compete in 2026 and beyond
This isn't your typical "Latino outreach" conversation. It's a masterclass in understanding the fastest-growing segment of the American electorate from insiders who've spent decades winning—and learning from losses. Whether you're a political operative, journalist, or engaged citizen, this discussion will change how you think about Latino voters and the future of American politics.
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Recorded October 29, 2025.
🎙️ Featuring: The USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future - Mike Murphy (https://dornsife.usc.edu/center-for-political-future)
🎙️& Helen Iris Torres - CEO of Hispanas Organized for Political Equality [HOPE] (https://www.latinas.org)
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