Chuck and Mike welcome our first guest of Season 2025, Dr. Derek Wakefield, a political academic whose groundbreaking research challenges conventional wisdom on Latino voting behavior. They break down how Latino voters—especially independents—prioritize economic issues over the traditional racial or immigration-based appeals. Dr. Derek findings reveal why Republican messaging made inroads with Latino Independents in past elections and the Democratic Party’s missteps in voter outreach. Tune in for a data-driven conversation that redefines Latino political identity and the future of American elections.

Dr. Derek Wakefield is a postdoctoral fellow at Emory University and an incoming Assistant Professor at Bucknell University. He received his PhD in Political Science and Social Policy from Princeton University. His research focuses on Latino politics, such as what messages best persuade Latino voters, trends in Latino partisan identity, and how campaigns conduct Latino outreach.

To learn more about Dr. Wakefield visit him at:

• www.derekwakefield.com
• X: @DerekJWakefield

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Recorded February 5, 2025

• Dr. Derek Wakefield Research (https://www.derekwakefield.com/research)
• California water releases ordered by Trump draw criticism: ‘It’s going to be wasted’ (https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/5126534-trump-california-water-release-order-criticism/)
• Comparing economic performance for Latinos under Trump, Biden (https://www.poynter.org/fact-checking/2024/comparing-economic-performance-for-latinos-under-trump-biden/)
• The economy is the top issue for Latino voters in 2024 (https://www.pewresearch.org/race-and-ethnicity/2024/09/24/in-tight-u-s-presidential-race-latino-voters-preferences-mirror-2020/re_2024-09-24_latino-voters_0-05/)
• For Hispanic voters, the economy, health care and coronavirus outbreak are top issues in 2020 election (https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2020/09/11/hispanic-voters-say-economy-health-care-and-covid-19-are-top-issues-in-2020-presidential-election/ft_2020-09-11_hispanicissues_01-png/)
• Education, the economy top issues for Latinos in 2016 (https://www.pewresearch.org/race-and-ethnicity/2016/10/11/views-of-the-nations-direction-and-2016s-top-issues/)

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