The Latino Vote

Chuck Rocha and Mike Madrid are back together for a must-see episode. The data is undeniable: Latino voters are shifting away from the Republican Party at historic speed, and the 2026 midterms may be more consequential for the Latino community than any election in recent memory.Chuck and Mike break down the explosive overperformance by Democrats in recent special elections, including a 23-point swing in the Marjorie Taylor Greene seat in Georgia and a 56-point shift in heavily Latino precincts in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Then they go district by district through Cook Political Report's 17 toss-up House seats, showing how the Latino vote will be the margin of victory in the majority of them.Also the Latino Vote Summit is scheduled for June 23 in Washington D.C. If you are interested in sponsoring (or attending), email us at latinovotepodcast@gmail.com.-Recorded April 8, 2026-Referenced in the episode:The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter - 2026 CPR House Race Ratings: https://www.cookpolitical.com/ratings/house-race-ratingsGeorgia Secretary of State Website - Georgia Election Results April 7, 2026 – Special Election: https://results.sos.ga.gov/results/public/Georgia/elections/40726SpecialElectionNBC News -  Wisconsin State Supreme Court Results 2026: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-elections/wisconsin-state-supreme-court-results-Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe for more episodes of The Latino Vote Podcast!Watch our episodes on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@thelatinovotepodcastFind us on Substack: https://substack.com/@thelatinovotepodcastFollow us on X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/TheLatino_VoteVisit our website for the latest Latino Vote news and subscribe to our newsletter: latinos.voteIf you want more of our discussions and behind the scenes please join our Patreon (www.patreon.com/thelatinovote) for exclusive content and opportunities!

Mike Madrid flies solo this week, and delivers one of the most data-packed, unfiltered episodes yet. No Chuck Rocha means no filter. Just raw polling analysis and the hard truths about what the numbers mean for Latino voters heading into the 2026 midterms.Mike breaks down why Donald Trump is polling at historic lows. TRUMP'S WORST APPROVAL RATING EVER. Worse than Nixon during Watergate, worse than Biden at his worst, and worse than any second-term president in modern polling history. He digs into new data showing Trump underwater on every major issue, with immigration remaining his only relative strength. And even that is slipping. With all this bad news, Mike ponders how this effects the 2026 midterms and whether Democrats are on track for a major wave election.But the real fire comes in the second half. Mike takes on both parties for failing Latino voters, with tons of evidence to back it. A Los Angeles Times article (depicting recent UC Berkeley data) shows working-class Latinos are leaving California over affordability. New data documenting persistent housing and wage gaps (UCLA LPPI research), and the fact that over half of Latino children in California are enrolled in Medi-Cal (Population Reference Bureau). He asks the uncomfortable question: if Latinos have the political power to change all of this, why aren't their own elected officials using it?-Recorded April 3, 2026.-Referenced in the episode:CNN poll conducted by SSRS Trump approval economyG. Elliott Morris / Silver Bulletin - The six big events that have dragged down Donald Trump's approval rating: https://www.gelliottmorris.com/p/2026-04-03-cotw-trump-approval-changepoints-analysisNewsweek - Republicans Brace for Midterms Massacre: https://www.newsweek.com/republicans-brace-for-midterms-massacre-11771849Los Angeles Times - Life after California: People find dramatically lower costs, are more likely to buy homes, new data show: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2026-03-31/life-after-california-people-find-dramatically-lower-costs-buy-homes-new-research-showsPopulation Reference Bureau - Medi-Cal Average Monthly Enrollment, by Race/Ethnicity: https://kidsdata.org/topic/735/medi-cal-monthly-enrollment-race/trend#fmt=2337&loc=2&tf=67,165&ch=10&pdist=73Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe for more episodes of The Latino Vote Podcast!Watch our episodes on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@thelatinovotepodcastFind us on Substack: https://substack.com/@thelatinovotepodcastFollow us on X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/TheLatino_VoteVisit our website for the latest Latino Vote news and subscribe to our newsletter: latinos.voteIf you want more of our discussions and behind the scenes please join our Patreon (www.patreon.com/thelatinovote) for exclusive content and opportunities!

Tejano music star Bobby Pulido (José Roberto Pulido Jr.) returns to the Latino Vote Podcast after securing the 2026 Democratic Primary win for Texas's 15th congressional district to discuss why his campaign is turning heads across the country.Bobby breaks down how how his campaign turned a political attack about quinceañeras into a viral movement with over 2,000 families inviting him to celebrate with them, why rapid response and instinct matter more than focus groups, and how his team has kept Republican incumbent Monica de la Cruz on defense from day one.In this episode:How Bobby Pulido went from singer to congressional candidate in South TexasThe quinceañera attack that backfired on Monica de la Cruz — and how Bobby owned itBobby's responses to recent ICE detaining including the teenage mariachi brothersWhy Democrats should champion God, Family, and CountryThe Latino voter shift: Trump regret, tariffs, and what's actually moving voters in 2026How Bobby plans to win young Latino men backThe Latino Vote Summit: June 23rd in Washington, D.C.-Recorded March 25, 2026-Support Bobby Pulido's Campaign: https://bobbypulidofortexas.com-Referenced this episode:The New York Times - Texas 15th Congressional District Primary Election Results: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/us/elections/results-texas-us-house-15-primary.htmlmitú - Bobby Pulido Took His Campaign to Quinceañeras and People Are Loving It: https://wearemitu.com/wearemitu/news/bobby-pulido-people-over-party-campaign/CBS News - ICE detention of South Texas mariachi band teen brothers sparks bipartisan backlash: https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/ice-detention-teen-brothers-south-texas-mariachi-band-bipartisan-backlash/El Paso Times - Hinojosa polling strong in red Texas districts, Abbott touts border security: https://www.elpasotimes.com/story/news/politics/elections/2026/03/12/texas-governors-race-how-is-gina-hinojosa-doing-in-election-polls/89117713007/The New York Times - Florida Special Election Results: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/us/elections/results-florida-special-march-24.html-Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe for more episodes of The Latino Vote Podcast!Watch our episodes on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@thelatinovotepodcastFind us on Substack: https://substack.com/@thelatinovotepodcastFollow us on X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/TheLatino_VoteVisit our website for the latest Latino Vote news and subscribe to our newsletter: latinos.voteIf you want more of our discussions and behind the scenes please join our Patreon (www.patreon.com/thelatinovote) for exclusive content and opportunities!

Breaking news shakes the Latino community as a bombshell New York Times investigation into César Chávez forces a major moment of reckoning. Chuck Rocha and Mike Madrid react in real time and unpack what these disturbing allegations mean for Latino political identity, labor history, and how we honor movements without deifying individuals.Then, the guys break down the Illinois Senate primary results: Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton edges out Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi in a stunning upset — and Chuck is fired up that in a race where $50 MILLION was spent, virtually nothing went toward Spanish-language Latino outreach. They compare it directly to the winning strategy used in Texas and explain exactly why Democrats keep making the same mistake.Plus — Republicans are quietly panicking. New focus groups and internal polling show the GOP may be in serious trouble with Latino voters after their post-election honeymoon collapsed in record time.And finally, Chuck and Mike make their BIGGEST announcement yet: The Latino Vote Summit is happening June 23rd in Washington, D.C. — an invite-only, one-day convening of Latino leaders across business, labor, and politics. Don't miss how to get on the list.-Recorded March 18, 2026-Referenced in the episode:The New York Times - Cesar Chavez, a Civil Rights Icon, Is Accused of Abusing Girls for Years: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/18/us/cesar-chavez-sexual-abuse-allegations-ufw.htmlThe New York Times - Who Is Dolores Huerta, the Activist Accusing Chavez?: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/18/us/dolores-huerta-cesar-chavez-allegations-ufw.htmlNPR - Illinois Primary Election Results 2026: https://apps.npr.org/primary-election-results-2026/states/IL.htmlNPR - Democrats set a turnout record in Texas, so is this the year it turns blue?: https://www.npr.org/2026/03/13/nx-s1-5745932/texas-primary-democrats-turnout-talarico-crockettPunchbowl News - The Latino vote could crush Republicans: https://punchbowl.news/article/house/latino-vote-gop/Statement from the UFW Foundation: https://ufwfoundation.org/statement-from-the-ufw-foundation-Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe for more episodes of The Latino Vote Podcast!Watch our episodes on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@thelatinovotepodcastFind us on Substack: https://substack.com/@thelatinovotepodcastFollow us on X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/TheLatino_VoteVisit our website for the latest Latino Vote news and subscribe to our newsletter: latinos.voteIf you want more of our discussions and behind the scenes please join our Patreon (www.patreon.com/thelatinovote) for exclusive content and opportunities!

In this must-watch episode, hosts Chuck Rocha and Mike Madrid sit down with Daniel Alegre, CEO of TelevisaUnivision, the largest Latino media network in the United States, to break down the freshest polling data on what's driving Latino voters heading into the 2026 midterm elections.Daniel shares brand-new polling conducted with Harris that reveals:📊 76% of Latino voters say cost of living and inflation are their top concern📊 82% of Latinos believe their vote is a critically deciding factor in elections📊 50% of all new voter registrations are Hispanic — and that number is acceleratingThe conversation gets into exactly where campaigns go wrong — from last-minute Spanish-language ad buys to ignoring the community entirely — and what campaigns like Ruben Gallego's, and James Talarico's did right to win the Latino vote.Topics Covered:Why affordability, cost of living, and inflation dominate Latino voter prioritiesHow 50% of new voters in recent elections are LatinoThe role of Spanish-language media like Univision in shaping political messagingWhy the Latino vote could decide key races in California, Texas, Arizona, and Florida-Recorded March 11, 2026-Referenced in the episode:New TelevisaUnivision & Harris Texas Latino Voter Study - HIGHLIGHTS MAJORS STRATEGIC DISCONNECT BETWEEN ELECTED LEADERS AND HISPANIC VOTERS IN TEXAS: https://corporate.televisaunivision.com/tu-harris-poll-texas/-Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe for more episodes of The Latino Vote Podcast!Watch our episodes on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@thelatinovotepodcastFind us on Substack: https://substack.com/@thelatinovotepodcastFollow us on X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/TheLatino_VoteVisit our website for the latest Latino Vote news and subscribe to our newsletter: latinos.voteIf you want more of our discussions and behind the scenes please join our Patreon (www.patreon.com/thelatinovote) for exclusive content and opportunities!

The Latino vote just reshaped the Texas Democratic primary—and the political establishment still doesn’t fully understand why.In this episode of the Latino Vote Podcast, Chuck Rocha and Mike Madrid break down the stunning results from the Texas primary and what they reveal about the growing power of Latino voters in American politics.From record Latino turnout in the Rio Grande Valley and Houston to the campaign strategy that powered James Talarico’s victory, this episode dives into the data, the messaging, and the ground game that actually moved voters.Chuck shares behind-the-scenes insights from the campaign:28,000 volunteers mobilized4.7 million peer-to-peer texts100,000+ door conversationsMillions invested in Spanish-language media and culturally targeted outreachMike and Chuck also discuss:The 60-40 Latino split that determined the Talarico-Crockett raceWhy cultural competency and early outreach matterThe emerging national Latino voting trend heading into 2026What a new California Latino voter poll reveals about the governor’s raceAre Latino voters becoming the most powerful swing voting bloc in American politics? We told you that 2026 was our year.-Recorded March 5, 2026.-Referenced in the episode:The New York Times - 'How Latino Voters Helped Talarico Win in Texas': https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/03/04/us/elections/texas-primary-talarico-crockett-results-votes.html?smid=nytcore-ios-shareCBS News - 'Julie Johnson, Colin Allred advance to runoff in Texas' 33rd Congressional District Democratic primary': https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/texas-33rd-district-democratic-primary-results-allred-johnson/California Governor’s Race 2026 – Likely Latino Voters by David Binder Research: https://latinos.vote/posts-pollresults-cagovernor-mar2026/Politico - 'GOP targets California for ballot fight on voter ID': https://www.politico.com/news/2026/03/02/california-voter-id-00807437-Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe for more episodes of The Latino Vote Podcast!Watch our episodes on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@thelatinovotepodcastFind us on Substack: https://substack.com/@thelatinovotepodcastFollow us on X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/TheLatino_VoteVisit our website for the latest Latino Vote news and subscribe to our newsletter: latinos.voteIf you want more of our discussions and behind the scenes please join our Patreon (www.patreon.com/thelatinovote) for exclusive content and opportunities!

For those of you who missed it, we hosted a live recording on our Substack, Monday, March 2nd. We appreciate everyone who joined and offered their input!-Recording a day before the Texas 2026 Primary, Chuck Rocha and Mike Madrid talk everything Texas.-Make sure to subscribe to our substack for in-depth articles on our episodes and to attend live recordings: https://thelatinovotepodcast.substack.com/Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe for more episodes of The Latino Vote Podcast!Watch our episodes on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@thelatinovotepodcastFind us on Substack: https://substack.com/@thelatinovotepodcastFollow us on X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/TheLatino_VoteVisit our website for the latest Latino Vote news and subscribe to our newsletter: latinos.voteIf you want more of our discussions and behind the scenes please join our Patreon (www.patreon.com/thelatinovote) for exclusive content and opportunities!

Chuck and Mike meet up in Sacramento, where they just finished briefing the California Senate Democratic Caucus — and they've got a lot to say. Recorded on the night of Trump's State of the Union address, this episode covers all the big races and trends you need to watch heading into the Texas primary.The numbers out of Texas are unlike anything they've seen before: Democratic early vote is outnumbering Republicans by six figures in major counties, with 30-point swings compared to 2022. But what does it all mean? Chuck and Mike break down the historic Crockett vs. Talarico Senate race and explain why Latino voters — not Black or white voters — will be the ones deciding the outcome. They also dig into the Republican primary chaos between Cornyn and Paxton, the $100M+ already spent in what's become the most expensive Senate primary in American history, and why Bobby Polito might be the most important candidate you've never heard of.Plus: the California governor's race is more complicated than it looks, Trump's allies are sitting on a $450M war chest heading into the midterms, and young non-college-educated Latino men remain the one demographic that hasn't swung back left. Chuck and Mike tell you what to watch for on election night — and announce plans for the first-ever Latino Vote Summit in Washington, D.C. this summer.-Recorded February 24, 2026-Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe for more episodes of The Latino Vote Podcast!Watch our episodes on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@thelatinovotepodcastFind us on Substack: https://substack.com/@thelatinovotepodcastFollow us on X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/TheLatino_VoteVisit our website for the latest Latino Vote news and subscribe to our newsletter: latinos.voteIf you want more of our discussions and behind the scenes please join our Patreon (www.patreon.com/thelatinovote) for exclusive content and opportunities!

Chuck is back from Oaxaca — and he brought receipts. This week, Chuck Rocha and Mike Madrid reunite to break down the elections and dynamics that will shape the Latino political landscape heading into the 2026 midterms. They open with tributes to Jesse Jackson and Chuck's former union president John Nash, reflecting on the multiracial coalitions that have always driven real change in America. Mike drops a history lesson on the 80th anniversary of Mendez v. Westminster, the landmark school desegregation case that predated Brown v. Board of Education by eight years.Then it's all strategy: the guys dig into the Texas special elections — including the Jasmine Crockett vs. James Talarico Senate race and the fascinating three-way dynamics of the Julie Johnson vs. Colin Allred primary — before pivoting to a district-by-district breakdown of key 2026 House battlegrounds across California, Colorado, and Arizona. Mike explains the "30% magic number" — the historical threshold at which Latino population share has flipped California seats from red to blue — and asks whether that rule still holds in today's rapidly shifting electorate.If you want to understand where the 2026 midterms will really be decided, this is your battlefield briefing.The numbers. The districts. The strategy. The Latino vote isn’t an afterthought anymore. It’s the front line.-Recorded February 18, 2026Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe for more episodes of The Latino Vote Podcast!Watch our episodes on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@thelatinovotepodcastFind us on Substack: https://substack.com/@thelatinovotepodcastFollow us on X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/TheLatino_VoteVisit our website for the latest Latino Vote news and subscribe to our newsletter: latinos.voteIf you want more of our discussions and behind the scenes please join our Patreon (www.patreon.com/thelatinovote) for exclusive content and opportunities!

Mike Madrid flies solo to unpack the future of Latino politics — and why 2026 could mark the beginning of an entirely new chapter.From Bad Bunny’s Spanish-language Super Bowl moment to the political aftershocks of Trump 2.0, Mike breaks down what he calls a Latino inflection point: a generational shift away from blind party loyalty and toward accountability.Why are Latino voters swinging harder than any other group in America?Why are both Democrats and Republicans failing to deliver real results?And why is representation no longer enough?Mike challenges Latino elected officials across the country to stop patching up broken systems in education, housing, and economic opportunity, and instead have the courage to rebuild them entirely. His point: Latino voters may be the last true swing vote in America — not because they lack ideology, but because they’re demanding results.Are Latino voters redefining American democracy — or exposing its failures?Tune in for one of the most candid and consequential conversations of the season.-Recorded February 11, 2026.-Referenced in the episode:PPIC - 'Remedial Courses in Community Colleges are a Major Hurdle to Success': https://www.ppic.org/press-release/remedial-courses-in-community-colleges-are-major-hurdle-to-success/PPIC - 'Remedial Education in California’s Colleges and Universities': https://www.ppic.org/publication/remedial-education-in-californias-colleges-and-universities/Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe for more episodes of The Latino Vote Podcast!Watch our episodes on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@thelatinovotepodcastFind us on Substack: https://substack.com/@thelatinovotepodcastFollow us on X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/TheLatino_VoteVisit our website for the latest Latino Vote news and subscribe to our newsletter: latinos.voteIf you want more of our discussions and behind the scenes please join our Patreon (www.patreon.com/thelatinovote) for exclusive content and opportunities!