U.S. Representative Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL) warned fellow Republicans in November of Latinos leaving the GOP. She said: “A year ago, Latinos made GOP history. But if we don’t deliver, we’ll lose that historic support. Yesterday’s results speak for themselves. To my fellow Republicans: let’s act now and embrace the community that shares our values, before our chance is gone for good.”
Note: According to the Pew Research Center, the number of Hispanics eligible to vote in 2024 rose to 36.2 million, representing 14.7% of the total electorate. According to a Harvard University report (The Hispanic Vote in the 2024 U.S. Presidential Elections), Hispanic support for Donald Trump increased from 28% in 2016 to 32% in 2020, and, to 46% in 2024.
Salazar, who co-sponsored the bipartisan Dignity Act of 2025, which would allow long-term undocumented immigrants to earn legal status through a 7-year “Dignity Program,” which includes paying restitution, is repeating her warning today.
I warned about this months ago, before the headlines caught up.
Today we are watching it unfold in real time.
Hispanics are leaving the GOP in large numbers, and pretending otherwise won’t fix it.
As Republicans, we must reverse course and act now. https://t.co/ndSPtNj8aX
— María Elvira Salazar
(@MaElviraSalazar) January 28, 2026
She added: “I warned about this months ago, before the headlines caught up. Today we are watching it unfold in real time. Hispanics are leaving the GOP in large numbers, and pretending otherwise won’t fix it. As Republicans, we must reverse course and act now.”
Salazar’s warnings are being met with disdain from MAGA supporters who are replying with comments including “No amnesty” and “deport them all.” Trump’s former White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon, known as a top MAGA architect, has been a loud critic of the Dignity Law and also of Salazar whom he has called “a traitorous Republican.”
Fellow Latina and former U.S. Congresswoman Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (D-FL) responded to Salazar’s post: “Another South Florida Republican concerned about her chances at reelection – FL26 is 70% Hispanic and more than half of the residents were born outside the U.S.”