How Did President-Elect Trump Gain The Bronx’s Latino Support? 

The Bronx’s Latino community shifted their support dramatically for President-elect Trump in the recent presidential contest. According to the New York City Election Atlas, Trump’s support grew nearly nine percent in the neighborhood around the Bronx Documentary Center in November’s election when compared to the 2020 election. Recent interviews with South Bronx residents revealed a variety of reasons for shifts in their perspective. 

One prominent reason residents mention the most in their voting choices was the economy.

“[Residents] struggle day to day to be able to get ahead. The economy is really not good– even though (the city) provides a lot of benefits, but they’re not enough.” said Stephanie, a local resident in the South Bronx.

According to PBS News, “Prices on average are still 19 percent higher than they were before inflation began to accelerate in 2021”. As rent, groceries, and taxes have continued to increase, Bronx residents say they have not seen significant increases in their wages to accommodate living expenses. 

According to Realtor.com “Incredibly, the median rent price in the Bronx has increased 56% since 2019, and is now $1,135 more than it was five years ago. To be able to afford rent in the Bronx, you’d need to make $126,520. That’s quite a lot, considering the median income in New York City across all five boroughs is $76,577, according to a 2023 U.S. Census Bureau report.”

President-elect Trump’s promise to restore economic stability is a major point in Bronx Latinos' shift towards the Republican Party. According to Bronx residents we interviewed, another reason for the increase in Trump support was because of immigration and what some Bronxites felt was a resulting crime wave. 

Under the Biden Administration there was a dramatic increase of migrants entering the county. According to a report from BBC News, published in September, 2024, approximately eight million immigrants traveled over the southwest land border with Mexico into the US. More than 210,000 of these came to New York City and many were placed in shelters in The Bronx.

New York City spent more than $1.45 billion in 2023 to provide shelter, food, and services to tens of thousands of asylum seekers, according to NYC.gov.

Many South Bronx residents say they are resentful towards the newly arriving migrants because these newer immigrants are receiving a great deal of city resources, while long-term residents in need haven’t received enough. 

New York City spent more than $1.45 billion in 2023 to provide shelter, food, and services to tens of thousands of asylum seekers, according to NYC.gov.

Many South Bronx residents say they are resentful towards the newly arriving migrants because these newer immigrants are receiving a great deal of city resources, while long-term residents in need haven’t received enough. 

“I came here with one hand in front and one hand in back covering myself, with a dollar in my pocket; meanwhile” said Dave, a local resident from the South Bronx.

Vice President Kamala Harris’s association with President Biden’s economic and immigration policies negatively affected Bronx Latino’s support for her in the 2024 election, many residents say, and helped shift their votes to President Trump. 

Through our various interviews, we came to the conclusion that there wasn’t a clear concrete shift in
Latino’s support for Trump. However they did show strong opinions to change allegiances in the election.