All eyes are turned to millions of Puerto Rican voters in the 50 states following a comic’s disparaging comments about the island during an Oct. 27 Donald Trump rally in New York City.
The fallout is helping to turn out Puerto Rican voters in the all-important swing state of Pennsylvania, as the race between the former President and Vice President Kamala Harris is tied in national polls.
Many living in Puerto Rico took to social media to express their anger, responding to Tony Hinchcliffe’s “floating island of garbage” comment with images of Puerto Rico’s white sands and beautiful beaches. Those who live on the island can’t vote in the presidential race, but they are putting their faith and the fate of Puerto Rico into the hands of Latino voters in the continental United States.
Latino voter registration accounts for 50% of all newly eligible voters since 2020, according to the Pew Research Center.
“It can make a huge impact,” said Yohairy Muñiz, a tour guide in Ponce, Puerto Rico, when asked about the influence Boricua voters in the U.S. can have on this year’s presidential election.
Voters interviewed in Humboldt Park, the nexus of Chicago’s Puerto Rican community, say they believe Latino voters may be able to tip the scales in this year’s election.
Shakira Marrero, a flight attendant living in Humboldt Park, said she found that following Hinchcliffe’s remarks, many Latino voters in her social media circles began to denounce their support for Donald Trump and his campaign.
Nearly every Latino spoken to in Humboldt Park echoed Marrero’s opinion.
“He lost a lot of people,” affirmed 22-year-old Natalie Rivera, shaking her head up and down as she recalled her love for Puerto Rico and her hometown of Juana Diaz. She linked the shift of sentiment to the island’s recent malignment at the Trump rally in Madison Square Garden last month.
“It’s like they forget we’re citizens, too,” said Wanda Colon, a Juana Diaz native who has moved to the U.S.
Tuesday, Oct. 29. (By Britton Struthers-Lugo)
However, not everyone is confident that Hinchcliffe’s words will dissuade Latinos from voting for Donald Trump or even inspire them to make it to the polls.
Axel Robles, a recent Chicago transplant from Naranjito, Puerto Rico, said Hinchcliffe’s comments may have swayed undecided voters, but “hard Donald Trump fans are still going to vote for Trump.”
In addition, those surveyed echoed sentiments of resignation, no matter the election outcome.
“Nothing will change,” said Naisha Martinez, shaking her head as she stood outside a Puerto Rican food truck across the street from a Humboldt Park polling place.
This sentiment reflects recent voter data collected by the Pew Research Center. In an analysis concerning race and ethnicity in voter turnout, the PRC found that Hispanic citizens were the most likely to have not voted in the three most recent general elections. Only 19% of eligible Hispanic voters participated in the last three elections, far below the national average of 37%.
However, the PRC also predicts that Hispanic voter eligibility will reach a new high in this year’s election. Since the 2020 election, the population of Hispanic eligible voters has increased by 12% (3.9 million people). And this growth accounts for 50% of all newly eligible voters since 2020.
Thus, the Latino vote may be more impactful this year than ever in the U.S. presidential elections.
Juanita Barraza, an immigrant and Humboldt Park resident said she knows what it is like to have her voice silenced. She said she strongly believes in the Latino community’s ability to be an impetus for change. That is why Barraza has volunteered to educate voters in Humboldt Park and encourage residents to get to the polls for the last decade and a half.
“I feel very upset when the people tell me, ‘Oh, I’m not going to vote,’” said Barraza, “When you go to a restaurant, do you tell the waitress just to bring anything? No, right? It’s the same thing.”
Standing outside Humboldt Park Library, Barraza handed out 26th Ward Voter Guides and a Jason Dónes For Chicago School Board District 3 endorsement flyer to everyone who passed.
“Excuse me, sir, do you need information to vote?”
The 2024 Presidential Election is on Tuesday, Nov. 5. To find out if you are registered to vote, find out where to vote, and access other resources, visit the Illinois State Board of Elections by clicking HERE.
Cover Photo: For hours, early voters lined up down the block to wait for their opportunity to vote at Humboldt Park Library. Saturday, Nov. 2. (By Britton Struthers-Lugo)
Britton Struthers-Lugo is a reporter with the Medill News Service at Northwestern University, a freelance journalist, and a photographer. Struthers-Lugo’s published work includes news articles, live broadcasts, and a documentary. She began her career as an Assistant Producer in the United Kingdom, and travelled around the world working on live TV. Prior to that, Struthers-Lugo graduated from the University of St Andrews in Scotland with an MA in Film Studies and International Relations. Last but not least, she is a proud Puerto Rican. ¡Wepa!