The Latino Vote

With Chuck on vacation in Alaska, Mike has the stage to himself. He gives his thoughts on up and coming Latino leaders, modern-day voter suppression, and polling data from his brand new poll with David Binder.

In This Episode:

• Looking forward: interviews with top Latino candidates in battleground districts
• Emerging stars of the Latino narrative
• Closed primaries: modern-day Latino voter suppression
• New polling data: Latino’s top issues, government and politician opinions, thoughts on affordability
• California’s problem: leaving the Latino working class behind

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Recorded August 12, 2026

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Referenced in This Episode:

• The Sacramento Bee - California’s Latino voters matter — and some insiders want to shut them out: https://www.sacbee.com/opinion/article316626339.html
• Los Angeles Times - Where is L.A.’s homeless money going? $1.6 million over 2 years to shelter CEO offers a glimpse: https://www.latimes.com/california/newsletter/2026-08-12/where-is-all-of-l-a-s-homelessness-money-going-1-6-million-payout-to-shelter-ceo-tells-part-of-story
• Latino Working Class Project: https://latinoworkingclass.com/
  • NEW POLL - California Latino Voter Poll: August 2026: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1oKcANAssPRQSr4AJDOTLGWwisvTYVpxy/view?usp=sharing

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Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe for more episodes of The Latino Vote Podcast!

Watch our episodes on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@thelatinovotepodcast

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Visit our website for the latest Latino Vote news and subscribe to our newsletter: latinos.vote

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It is an exciting time for Latino candidates and Chuck and Mike have a list of races to look out for. As primaries are called and midterm elections draw nearer, they give their insight into race results and the data behind it all.

In This Episode:

• Michigan Democratic Senate primary - Abdul Al-Sayed’s victory
• Polling misses, partisan polls, and predictive betting markets
• Not ideology, populism as the commonality
• The lessening importance of money in races
• Races to follow - Latinos running in marginal seats against Republican incumbents
  • TX-15: Bobby Pulido, www.bobbypulidofortexas.com
  • AZ-6: JoAnna Mendoza, www.joannamendoza.com 
  • CO-8: Manny Rutinel, www.mannyforcolorado.com
  • CA-22: Randy Villegas, www.villegasforcongress.com 
• DCCC target list expansion

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Recorded August 5, 2026

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Referenced in This Episode

• NBC - Abdul El-Sayed wins Michigan’s Democratic Senate primary, notching a Midwest victory for the left: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-election/abdul-el-sayed-wins-michigans-democratic-senate-primary-notching-midwe-rcna589750
• Mike Madrid on Substack - Lies, Damn Lies and Polls: https://greattransformation.substack.com/p/lies-damn-lies-and-polls
• The Hill - House Democrats add 12 GOP seats to target list: https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/6009504-house-democrats-offensive-targets-gop-seats/ 

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Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe for more episodes of The Latino Vote Podcast!

Watch our episodes on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@thelatinovotepodcast

Find us on Substack: https://substack.com/@thelatinovotepodcast

Follow us on X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/TheLatino_Vote

Visit our website for the latest Latino Vote news and subscribe to our newsletter: latinos.vote

If you want more of our discussions and behind the scenes please join our Patreon (www.patreon.com/thelatinovote) for exclusive content and opportunities!

Chuck Rocha and Mike Madrid are excited to have a conversation with New Mexico Speaker Javier Martínez. From energy, to universal childcare, to organizing vs. advocacy, Speaker Martínez breaks down what it takes to run the state of New Mexico and how it may guide politics more broadly.

In This Episode:

• NALEO recap
• Speaker Martínez’ background and origins in politics
• Speaker Martinez on the value of organizers and his journey to Speaker
• Proactive organizing strategy and the success of universal childcare in New Mexico
• Balancing New Mexico’s oil industry with renewable energy initiatives and using oil money to invest in the community
• New Mexico’s role in the Democrat’s 2028 primary calendar
• New Mexico Latino community’s driving issues

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Recorded July 31, 2026

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Referenced in this Episode:

• The New York Times - Who Wins (and Who Loses) in the Democrats’ New 2028 Primary Calendar?: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/28/us/politics/democrats-2028-primary-calendar.html
• Find Speaker Javier Martinez @javierfornm on social media and at javiermartinezfornewmexico.com

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Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe for more episodes of The Latino Vote Podcast!

Watch our episodes on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@thelatinovotepodcast

Find us on Substack: https://substack.com/@thelatinovotepodcast

Follow us on X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/TheLatino_Vote

Visit our website for the latest Latino Vote news and subscribe to our newsletter: latinos.vote

If you want more of our discussions and behind the scenes please join our Patreon (www.patreon.com/thelatinovote) for exclusive content and opportunities!

Chuck and Mike are at NALEO for a live taping of the Latino Vote Podcast! They discuss new data on the Latino vote and look into the future of Latino dealignment. Also, stay tuned to The Latino Vote Podcast YouTube channel for a special episode on their Los Angeles Mexican food experience!

In This Episode:

• NALEO 50th anniversary
• Data and analysis on Latino voting patterns
• Working class anxieties and populist disruption
• California politics: the new frontier from representation to results
• Trend predictions and the power of the Latino vote
• Q&A

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Recorded July 15, 2026

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Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe for more episodes of The Latino Vote Podcast!

Watch our episodes on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@thelatinovotepodcast

Find us on Substack: https://substack.com/@thelatinovotepodcast

Follow us on X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/TheLatino_Vote

Visit our website for the latest Latino Vote news and subscribe to our newsletter: latinos.vote

If you want more of our discussions and behind the scenes please join our Patreon (www.patreon.com/thelatinovote) for exclusive content and opportunities!

New Pew Research report shows growing pessimism about Latino identity and a partisan split in how identity is viewed. Mike and Chuck offer their thoughts on this and more…

In This Episode

• ICE shooting of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Houston, TX
• New Pew Research report on Latino American identity
• Campaign strategy: current money allocation is not working
• Graham Platner campaign suspended in Maine
• NALEO Conference in Los Angeles and 50th anniversary

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Recorded July 9, 2026

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Referenced In This Episode:

• CNN - ICE officer fatally shoots man while conducting traffic stop in Houston, agency says: https://www.cnn.com/2026/07/07/us/houston-ice-shooting-death
• Pew Research Center - U.S. Hispanics Are Divided on Whether Their Identity Helps or Hurts Them in America: https://www.pewresearch.org/race-and-ethnicity/2026/07/09/u-s-hispanics-are-divided-on-whether-their-identity-helps-or-hurts-them-in-america/
• The Guardian - Graham Platner ends Maine Senate campaign after sexual assault allegation: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jul/08/graham-platner-maine-senate-campaign

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Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe for more episodes of The Latino Vote Podcast!

Watch our episodes on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@thelatinovotepodcast

Find us on Substack: https://substack.com/@thelatinovotepodcast

Follow us on X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/TheLatino_Vote

Visit our website for the latest Latino Vote news and subscribe to our newsletter: latinos.vote

If you want more of our discussions and behind the scenes please join our Patreon (www.patreon.com/thelatinovote) for exclusive content and opportunities!

As far-left progressive Democrats find success in the primaries and incumbents are unseated, a new political landscape reveals itself. Chuck and Mike discuss what is driving voters this way and what this means for future campaigns.

In This Episode:

• Latino Vote Summit Recap and looking forward to NALEO
• Chuck’s experience at the Texas Democratic Convention
• Supreme Court ruling on mail-in ballots and its anticipated impacts
• Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Espaillat loss to DSA candidate in New York
• Elections to watch in Colorado

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Recorded June 29, 2026

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Referenced in this Episode:

• Associated Press - Supreme Court rules states can count late-arriving mailed ballots, rejecting Trump-led challenge https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-mailed-ballots-trump-elections-5f24f718ea92a33838485ce6302e079e
• Daily Beast - Married MAGA Candidate Caught With Latest Mistress: https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-endorsed-ken-paxton-caught-with-latest-mistress-tracy-duhon/
• The Hill - New York progressive sweep sparks reckoning as Hispanic caucus loses Espaillat: https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5941619-hispanic-caucus-espaillat-new-york-primary/

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Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe for more episodes of The Latino Vote Podcast!

Watch our episodes on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@thelatinovotepodcast

Find us on Substack: https://substack.com/@thelatinovotepodcast

Follow us on X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/TheLatino_Vote

Visit our website for the latest Latino Vote news and subscribe to our newsletter: latinos.vote

If you want more of our discussions and behind the scenes please join our Patreon (www.patreon.com/thelatinovote) for exclusive content and opportunities!

Chuck and Mike are back from their break and excited to share more information about the Latino Vote Summit on June 23rd. In this episode, they’ll dive into what you can expect from this event: what will be going on, who you will see there, and plans for future events.

The Summit offers a unique opportunity for leaders and organizers from both sides of the aisle to share their perspectives on major issues facing Americans. You’ll want to hear what they have to say about the economy, immigration, healthcare, and more.

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Recorded June 17, 2026

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Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe for more episodes of The Latino Vote Podcast!

Watch our episodes on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@thelatinovotepodcast

Find us on Substack: https://substack.com/@thelatinovotepodcast

Follow us on X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/TheLatino_Vote

Visit our website for the latest Latino Vote news and subscribe to our newsletter: latinos.vote

If you want more of our discussions and behind the scenes please join our Patreon (www.patreon.com/thelatinovote) for exclusive content and opportunities!

Chuck Rocha and Mike Madrid break down the seismic California Governor's race, where Xavier Becerra is surging despite being outspent 150-to-1 by billionaire Tom Steyer, who has already burned through $200 million, roughly $166 per vote. They unpack Steyer's undisclosed influencer campaign flooding Latino social media, what it means for the integrity of political messaging, and why Latino voters in California are rallying behind Xavier Becerra anyway.

Plus:

• Trump's cognitive decline - Can Democrats raise the age issue after defending Biden?
• California primaries to watch - Linda Sanchez, Hilda Solis, and the LA Mayor's race (Karen Bass vs. Spencer Pratt)
• Post-Supreme Court redistricting fallout - How states like Tennessee and Florida are already redrawing lines to dilute Latino and Black voting power
• New Jersey's newest Congresswoman - A heartfelt moment with Rep. Anna Lilia Mejia
• LIVE at NALEO - The podcast is recording LIVE on July 15 at the NALEO Annual Conference in Los Angeles
•  Latino Vote Summit - June 23 in D.C., featuring Sen. Ruben Gallego

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Recorded May 15, 2026
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Referenced in the episode:

• The Washington Post - California gubernatorial candidate under investigation over payments to influencers: https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2026/05/15/tom-steyers-influencer-campaign-triggers-california-investigation-over-undisclosed-posts/

Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe for more episodes of The Latino Vote Podcast!

Watch our episodes on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@thelatinovotepodcast

Find us on Substack: https://substack.com/@thelatinovotepodcast

Follow us on X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/TheLatino_Vote

Visit our website for the latest Latino Vote news and subscribe to our newsletter: latinos.vote

If you want more of our discussions and behind the scenes please join our Patreon (www.patreon.com/thelatinovote) for exclusive content and opportunities!

Chuck Rocha and Mike Madrid break down the Supreme Court's landmark ruling on Section 2 of the 1964 Voting Rights Act... and what it means for Latino political power across America.

Mike tried to sound the alarms on this ruling back in October. Now the bomb has gone off. With 56 Latino members of Congress and dozens of race-based districts in jeopardy, both Republicans and Democrats are about to learn a hard lesson about taking the Latino vote for granted.

In this episode:

• Supreme Court ruling on the Voting Rights Act & racial redistricting explained
• What this means for Latino and Black congressional seats across the country
• Texas, Florida, & California redistricting
• Are Latinos a partisan voting bloc?
• The Florida Senate race to watch: Alex Vindman vs. a Trump-backed Republican
• Recap of the White House Correspondents' Dinner & the scary security incident
• Check your emails: Latino Vote Summit — June 23rd in Washington, D.C.

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Recorded April 29, 2026
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Referenced in the episode:

• SCOTUSblog - In major Voting Rights Act case, Supreme Court strikes down redistricting map challenged as racially discriminatory: https://www.scotusblog.com/2026/04/in-major-voting-rights-act-case-supreme-court-strikes-down-redistricting-map-challenged-as-racia/
• EMC Research - Results from California Voter Survey: https://www.politico.com/f/?id=0000019d-d6b0-d895-affd-d6f14bee0000
• Advocate - Inside Grindr’s WHCD party, which was so packed it ran low on alcohol: https://www.advocate.com/politics/national/inside-grindr-whcd-party

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Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe for more episodes of The Latino Vote Podcast!

Watch our episodes on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@thelatinovotepodcast

Find us on Substack: https://substack.com/@thelatinovotepodcast

Follow us on X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/TheLatino_Vote

Visit our website for the latest Latino Vote news and subscribe to our newsletter: latinos.vote

If you want more of our discussions and behind the scenes please join our Patreon (www.patreon.com/thelatinovote) for exclusive content and opportunities!

Former LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa joins Mike Madrid and Chuck for a raw, unfiltered conversation about the California Governor's race, the Democratic Party's broken relationship with Latino working-class voters, and what it will take to win them back.

Villaraigosa doesn't just take on Trump, he challenges his own party. From ICE raids tearing families apart, to gas prices crushing Latino workers, to Democrats protecting sacred cows instead of their own constituents — this candidate for California Governor pulls no punches.

Topics covered:

• Why Villaraigosa is running for California Governor in 2026
• How the Democratic Party is losing Latino and working-class vote
• His plan to push back on ICE raids and protect immigrant communities
• Growing up in Boyle Heights and the birth of the Chicano civil rights movement
• Marching with César Chávez and Dolores Huerta — and his thoughts on the controversy 
• Why being pro-worker AND pro-business is the only path forward
• California's affordability crisis and how it affects Latinos.

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Referenced in the episode:

• Bay Area Council Economic Institute - THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF MASS DEPORTATION IN CALIFORNIA: https://www.bayareaeconomy.org/files/pdf/Economic%20Impact%20of%20Mass%20Deportation_June%202025.pdf
• Public Policy Institute of California - Business Regulation and Business Starts in California: https://www.ppic.org/publication/business-regulation-and-business-starts-in-california/
• UCLA Latino Policy & Politics Institute - Gasoline Costs and Affordability Pressures in California: Impacts on Latino Households: https://latino.ucla.edu/research/gas-costs-affordability-impacts-on-latino-households-ca/

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Recorded, April 24, 2026
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Don't forget to like, share, and subscribe for more episodes of The Latino Vote Podcast!

Watch our episodes on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@thelatinovotepodcast

Find us on Substack: https://substack.com/@thelatinovotepodcast

Follow us on X (formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/TheLatino_Vote

Visit our website for the latest Latino Vote news and subscribe to our newsletter: latinos.vote

If you want more of our discussions and behind the scenes please join our Patreon (www.patreon.com/thelatinovote) for exclusive content and opportunities!