Latinos are Libertarians. They just don’t know it yet.
Was the late President Ronald Reagan correct in assuming that Hispanics have inherent Republican values? Immigrants from Mexico, Central America, and South America share many conservative values: hard work, religiosity, reverence for tradition, and personal responsibility. Their American-born children also continue to hold these values. President Reagan understood this and ran a successful first-term campaign that attracted almost forty percent of the Latino vote — the highest of any Republican presidential candidate at the time. Unfortunately, the Grand Old Party that once advocated for tearing down walls under the Reagan administration looks much different today. While the animosity towards immigrants among some Republicans is bad news if they want to win over Hispanics, it leaves a lot of opportunity for a third political group.
Much has changed since the 1980s, a decade in which Latinos made up just 6.5 percent of the population in 1980 compared to approximately 18.5 percent in 2019. The embrace of socialist ideas on the left has recently attracted more youth and minorities, but these policies have done nothing to improve economic conditions for Hispanic communities. Moreover, Latinos often flee their home countries because of the same socialist policies that are now being considered by progressives. So, it should be no surprise that this demographic prioritizes the economy over most issue areas. While Latinos vote Democratic for the most part, President Trump made gains with Latinos in 2020. The Trump campaign focused on economic progress made during their first term and won 38 percent of the Hispanic vote as a result (up 10 points from 2016). The economy is the issue that politicians should lead with when doing outreach to Latinos, but it is not the only important issue.
Immigration typically comes first to mind when thinking about policy issues important to Latinos. Immigration is the foundation of so many American families, and while some Latinos are more affected by immigration policy than others, it remains an emotional issue that has real consequences for loved ones in this community. Democrats have consistently won over Hispanics by framing immigration as an issue of compassion, while Republicans have failed by framing it in the context of law and order. What’s more, is that former President Obama deported more individuals than his Republican predecessor and was criticized for not deporting enough by Trump. However, no matter what party has been in control, our immigration system has largely remained unchanged in over thirty years. Immigration has shaped our institutions since the formation of our country, yet we have not updated our immigration policy in three decades.
Finally, free trade is yet another issue that Hispanics care about and largely support — especially compared to other racial groups — and a policy that Democrats and Republicans have both floundered on. Free trade is one of the most critical elements in a free market society and has lifted millions out of poverty around the world. Allowing more imports into the US allows for more consumer options and lower prices. Unfortunately, our leaders have taken to protectionist means to make it appear as if they are defending American industries. In fact, they are harming consumers and ultimately harming the industries they seek to protect. Competition leads to innovation, and this is exactly the entrepreneurial spirit that many Latino immigrants and their descendants embrace in this country.
I have described how the Democratic Party and the GOP have failed in acting on issues important to the Latino community, but what can Latinos do about it? While I am not suggesting anyone trades in their party affiliation to register for the Libertarian Party, I believe that libertarianism provides the most individual liberty for all Americans to pursue a prosperous life. This thought is what inspired my grandparents to migrate here with only a few dollars in their pocket. They envisioned a life in which they could be free to earn an income and provide a better life for their family, without unnecessary interference from their new government. This is the story of nearly all immigrants in the US, not just from Latin America, and it should not be a radical idea.
Whether you decide to vote for a Libertarian candidate next election cycle or simply scrutinize your candidate’s policies more, we should demand more freedom and opportunity to succeed from our elected officials.
