As the presidential election approaches, many undecided voters ask themselves one central question: “Who should I vote for?” A meeting at the University of New Mexico’s Travelstead Hall on Oct. 2 explored if Vice President Kamala Harris’ gender and racial identity will appeal to undecided New Mexicans in the upcoming election.
A dramatic shift among Latino voters and how they perceive Harris may play a critical role in the election, according to political science professor and pollster Gabriel R. Sanchez.
Sanchez noted the vast difference between male and female Latino voters. In a recent study, he found that about 78% of Latino voters supported the Democratic Party in the 2016 presidential election. However, those numbers have decreased to 62% in 2024. He also said that about 60% of female voters are still undecided, while U.S. Latino males have dropped to about 56% this year.
Sanchez said that one of the biggest factors among undecided Latino voters is the growing concern about the U.S. Economy, adding that inflation and the U.S. border crisis are significant factors for these demographics.
While there has been an increase in Hispanic and Latino representation, Sanchez also claims that only 50% of Latina voters have been reached so far, which may have altered some of the results in recent poll data.
As more information shows U.S. Latino men gravitating toward former President Donald Trump, others believe Vice President Kamala Harris still has a strong lead based on her multiracial heritage, which may connect with many undecided voters.
“What we have noticed throughout history is that white males tend to show more emotion in public and in politics,” said Belinda Deneen Wallace, an associate professor of English and literature specializing in critical race theory. “In contrast, women are often punished for acting in such a manner, so they tend to avoid such acts to avoid being labeled as a stereotype and tend to be more conservative.”
Harris’ father is Jamaican, and her mother is Indian, and Wallace said that Harris’ multiracial identity, gender and previous political experience as a prosecutor “provide a sense of comfort for the country” that may attract undecided female voters.
