In the 2024 U.S. presidential election, a striking shift occurred in the Latino electorate: 53.1% of Latino men—totaling over 4 million votes—cast their ballots for Donald Trump, a significant departure from their historical preference for Democratic candidates. This trend, highlighted in a viral X post by Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) on April 20, 2025, saw Trump outperform Kamala Harris among Latino men in key states like Texas and Florida. While economic concerns were a primary driver, as noted in a Brookings report from December 2024, a deeper undercurrent of frustration with gang violence—particularly from groups like MS-13—appears to have fueled what many are calling a “common sense voting” movement among Latino men. These men, often living on the frontlines of communities plagued by gang activity, prioritized safety and security, aligning with Trump’s hardline stance on immigration.
The MS-13 Factor: A Real Threat in Latino Communities
MS-13, a Salvadoran street gang that originated in Los Angeles in the 1980s, has long been a source of fear in Latino neighborhoods across the U.S. According to a Wikipedia entry on the gang, MS-13 evolved from a protective group for Salvadoran immigrants into a violent criminal organization, with high-profile murders like the 2018 killing of four young Latino men on Long Island underscoring its threat. A 2023 City Journal article further illustrates this impact, detailing how MS-13 recruitment begins as early as middle school in some Hispanic communities, contributing to a 50% high school dropout rate and violent incidents like a machete attack in the Washington suburbs. For many Latino men, these are not abstract statistics—they are lived realities that shape their daily lives and perceptions of safety.
The X thread following Daugherty’s post captures this sentiment vividly. A user, @justimportant2, commented, “The Hispanic community is harmed the most by illegal immigrants. They don’t want illegal gangs in their neighborhoods.” This frustration is compounded by the perception that Democratic policies have been too lenient on illegal immigration, which many Latino men associate with the influx of gang members. A Brookings piece from December 2024 notes that Trump’s campaign capitalized on this discontent, using misinformation to blame immigrants for economic woes—a message that resonated with Latino men already grappling with gang-related challenges in their communities.
Common Sense Voting: Prioritizing Community Safety
The term “common sense voting” has emerged to describe this shift among Latino men, reflecting a pragmatic choice to support a candidate perceived as tougher on crime and immigration. Trump’s promise of mass deportations and his administration’s actions—such as the March 2025 arrest of an alleged MS-13 East Coast leader in Virginia, as reported by AP News—likely reinforced this perception. For Latino men living in neighborhoods where MS-13’s presence means violence, extortion, and fear, supporting a candidate who prioritizes cracking down on illegal immigration and gang activity felt like a logical, survival-driven decision.
This sentiment is echoed in the X thread. @ScottBennet0245 wrote, “If they’re in the USA legally, they don’t want criminal invaders to be given free rides using our taxpayer dollars.” This statement highlights a broader frustration among Latino men who feel that illegal immigration, and the gang violence it often brings, unfairly burdens their communities. While Brookings data shows that 74% of Latino men support a path to citizenship for long-term immigrants, their opposition to unchecked illegal immigration—particularly when it involves criminal elements like MS-13—appears to have tipped the scales toward Trump.
Economic Concerns Amplify the Gang Narrative
While gang violence played a significant role, it intersected with economic frustrations that further drove Latino men’s voting behavior. The Brookings report found that 48% of Latino men under 40 supported Trump, with 20% being first-time voters, largely due to economic concerns. Trump’s campaign messaging, which falsely blamed immigrants for job losses and economic hardship, resonated with Latino men already feeling the strain of competition in their communities. As City Journal notes, contemporary Hispanic immigration allows migrants to maintain strong ties to their home countries, sometimes exacerbating cultural and economic tensions within Latino neighborhoods. MS-13’s presence, often tied to illegal immigration, became a tangible symbol of these broader challenges, amplifying the appeal of Trump’s anti-immigrant rhetoric.
A Cultural Shift with Broader Implications
Beyond gangs and economics, cultural values also contributed to Latino men’s shift toward Trump. As @ScottBennet0245 noted in the X thread, “Hispanics are predominantly Christian. It appears they don’t like promoting men in women’s bathrooms or in women’s sports.” This suggests that Latino men’s support for Trump was not solely about MS-13 or immigration but also about a broader alignment with conservative values often at odds with progressive Democratic policies. However, the gang issue provided a visceral, immediate concern that made Trump’s platform particularly appealing.
The Bigger Picture: A Wake-Up Call for Democrats
The 2024 election results among Latino men serve as a wake-up call for Democrats, who have historically relied on Latino support. While Joe Biden won 59% of the Latino vote in 2020, according to AS/COA, Trump’s record-breaking performance in 2024—particularly among Latino men—signals a need for Democrats to address the real concerns of this demographic. The Brookings report suggests that the door remains open for Democrats to win back Latino men by focusing on economic policies and immigration reform that prioritize community safety without alienating legal immigrants. However, ignoring the impact of gangs like MS-13 on Latino neighborhoods risks further eroding support.
The 2024 election showcased a pivotal moment of common sense voting among Latino men, driven by their lived experiences with gang violence, economic hardship, and cultural values. MS-13, as a symbol of the broader challenges tied to illegal immigration, played a significant role in shaping their support for Trump, who positioned himself as a defender of community safety. While economic concerns were the primary driver, the visceral fear of gang violence in Latino neighborhoods amplified Trump’s appeal, leading to a historic shift in voting patterns. As the U.S. continues to grapple with immigration and crime, understanding the priorities of Latino men will be crucial for both parties in future elections. For now, their message is clear: safety and security are non-negotiable, and they’ll vote for whoever they believe will deliver.
