Latino voters in Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley are expressing renewed frustration over the cost of fuel, groceries and housing, putting pressure on Republicans as the midterm elections approach.
The community was an important part of Donald Trump’s winning coalition two years ago. But voters and local political figures say economic pressures remain severe, with some who supported the president now considering backing his Democratic opponents.
Victor Martinez, who presents a Spanish-language radio programme in Allentown, has spent nearly a decade hearing from listeners about their concerns. He added a politics hour to his morning show towards the end of Trump’s first term, when callers raised the January 6 attack on the US Capitol, inflation and Joe Biden’s age.
He said the mood had not improved halfway through Trump’s second term.
“It’s the economy, stupid. That’s what it is. I mean, things have gotten so bad,” Mr Martinez said. “People didn’t think Biden did a good job. Everything was expensive and now it’s worse.”
Latino voters are central to a closely watched Pennsylvania race
Mr Martinez broadcasts from a studio in downtown Allentown, in Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District. Latinos account for about a quarter of the district’s population, which has made their support a central target for both parties.
Republican incumbent Ryan Mackenzie is facing Democratic challenger Bob Brooks, a retired firefighter and union official, in one of the country’s most closely watched contests. Both campaigns have organised outreach to Latino voters.
Mr Brooks has promoted himself as “Bombero Bob”, or firefighter Bob in Spanish, and has visited a Mexican restaurant and a barbershop displaying a Dominican flag. Mr Mackenzie’s campaign has highlighted support from Latino voters and officials, while his district office in central Allentown has Spanish-speaking staff.
Mr Martinez, a longstanding critic of Mr Trump, is supporting Mr Brooks this year. Yet he said his own political roots were Republican and that he had previously backed candidates including Marco Rubio and Jeb Bush. He also opposed Mr Biden’s decision to seek re-election because of his age.
He said his programme was intended to keep people engaged with politics despite their disillusionment. “I got a call yesterday from a guy that said that he was just not going to vote,” Mr Martinez said. “I understand that feeling of frustration, but not doing nothing is not the answer.”
Economic pressure shapes the midterm campaign
Republicans have bought advertising on Mr Martinez’s programme as they seek to retain the Latino support won by Mr Trump. Jackie Rivera, vice chair of the Lehigh County Republican Party, said the party was focusing on issues including “faith and family”.
She said Republicans were not trying to present the economy as stronger than voters believed it was.
“We’re not pretending everything is great right now,” Ms Rivera said. “You have to be honest with them so that they can believe in you and actually trust in what you’re stating to them.”
Matt Tuerk, Allentown’s Democratic mayor, said voters were raising the same concerns they had voiced two years ago, when Mr Biden argued that the economy was strong.
“People on the street were like, ‘Yeah, but my monthly childcare bill is higher and then my monthly mortgage, the price of groceries is ridiculously high,’” he said. “That’s the same story that you hear right now. There’s been no improvement.”
Claudia Parrales-DeLeon, a Democratic listener from Allentown, said the programme helped people stay informed as they dealt with higher petrol and grocery costs, as well as Mr Trump’s immigration crackdown.
She recalled a caller describing how he had lost his job, could not find work and did not know how he would provide his next meal for himself and his children.
Alberto Pena, who runs a Dominican restaurant in Allentown with his wife, voted for Mr Trump in the hope that he would reverse the effects of high inflation under Mr Biden. He now says they are still “living day by day” and is leaning towards Mr Brooks.
“This is not what we expected,” Mr Pena said. “The economy is completely on the ground.”
