A sweeping new Florida International University survey of Latino voters has delivered a political gut punch to Donald Trump across most of the country, with a solid majority now saying they disapprove of him. Florida, however, is stubbornly refusing to fall in line, as Cuban Americans and a few other pockets of support keep the state's Latino numbers hovering much closer to even.
The Annual LATINO Survey was unveiled April 13 and polled more than 1,000 Latino voters, according to FIU. The poll suggests that affordability and the cost of living are driving much of the shift away from Trump, and FIU director Eduardo Gamarra called the findings a "significant recalibration" of Latino political preferences. Campaign strategists in both parties are already poring over the subgroup numbers, looking for cracks and opportunities.
Poll Numbers At A Glance
The survey puts Trump's net approval among Latino voters nationally at about minus 36 points and finds roughly two-thirds of respondents disapprove of his performance. The decline is steep across large origin groups, and Florida is the outlier, registering about a minus-10 net approval, according to Orlando Sentinel. Those state and subgroup breakdowns suggest the GOP's 2024 gains with Latinos may be on shaky ground outside Florida.
Why Florida Bucked The Trend
Florida's outlier status is tied largely to its Cuban-American base, concentrated in South Florida and more receptive to tough immigration and anti-communist messaging. FIU's numbers show Cuban respondents were among the president's most favorable groups, with more than half expressing support and a large share backing the administration's deportation approach, as reported by WLRN. That localized intensity keeps Florida's Latino approval much closer to even, even as national sentiment among Latinos tilts hard against Trump.
What This Means For 2026
Looking ahead to the 2026 midterms, the poll points to a clear geographic split: Democrats appear to hold an overall edge with Latino voters nationally, while Republicans can still count on significant pockets of strength in Florida. The survey found about 60% of Latino respondents say they plan to back Democrats in November and lists inflation and cost-of-living (about 27%), immigration (about 15.7%) and health-care costs (about 14%) as top concerns, per Orlando Sentinel. For now, campaigns outside Florida will be testing whether sagging Trump approval can be turned into real turnout gains among Latino voters.
