I live here near the 100th in Texas. My Latino ranch foreman and his Latino wife live 100 yards from me and I am with them and their family a lot. I spend a lot of time with my unofficially adopted Latino kids and their mom. I speak fair Spanglish and have lots of Latino friends and workers. I have several views on why the Hispanic vote is not overwhelmingly Democratic.

Culturally Texas-Immigrant Latinos have some versions of traditional Republican platform views. As a generalization they are hard working and value independence and self-contribution with minimum regulation, overhead or taxes and distrust government. The tendency is to be very law abiding with a gratitude for non-corrupt police. They (these are generalizations but have a intimate 1st hand basis across dozens of 1st generation Latino close friends) don’t make a clear connection between taxes and roads and schools assuming government corruption far outside their participation. Jobs are of high priority with the highest priority family (always) and religion (sometimes). They are quick to utilize social programs like school lunch or Medicare but seemingly don’t make the connection to the Democratic Party. The “Boys and Girls Club” run by local Trump voting white Anglo people seem more tangible than broader education or healthcare programs — and certainly less paperwork. Paperwork is a suspect and undesirable thing to be culturally avoided by most of the 1st generation lower education level mostly Spanish speaking Latinos. Value of education is erratic and varies a lot between Latino families. Lack of healthcare, insurance or minimum wage is just assumed to be a given not to be questioned. A $50 bonus for a job finished faster buys Saturday Cravesa — more meaningful than a $200 a month healthcare subsidy. The most reliable source of information is internal to the Latino community and propaganda is easily injected and contagious (no matter how inaccurate) if it appears to be internal generated rather than outside the culture sources who are suspect as manipulative. There is low voter turnout because anything government seems abstract, far removed and outside their control — and assumed corrupt. Latino candidates (who are usually Democratic Party) do get somewhat higher voter turnout. So, in my estimation it is complex. The main solution for Hispanic voter turnout has to be trust and in the Latino culture building trust, as a stereotype, is done grassroots, personal and based on relationship.

Finally, 1st generation Latinos are VERY pragmatic. Wearing a MAGA baseball cap and a bumper sticker saying my son is in the US Army generates less hassle and friction in rural, often less than median level educated rural Texas.

Paradoxically, ethnically Anglo Texas population is fearful of uncertainty and changes and the % growth of the Latino population is in the bullseye of that fear — even though it has no discernible basis in fact. Latinos commit less crime, work hard, have a friendly culture and are massive contributors to the economy. Nevertheless the shift in ethnic %s and the growing diversity of the cities ( and Covid) has Anglo Texas literally “heading for the hills” in record numbers … buying properties in rural areas as a form of informal succession.