BOSTON — As the midterm elections approach, a stark economic divide is taking center stage in Massachusetts, with the state’s rapidly growing Latino electorate reporting levels of financial anxiety that could heavily influence outcomes at the ballot box.
According to data from a Suffolk University/Boston Globe/Telemundo poll, nearly 69% of Latino respondents in the state consider the economy to be in a recession or a depression—significantly higher than the 50% average across all likely general election voters. The numbers underscore a profound cost-of-living crisis that has become a pivotal issue for candidates campaigning ahead of the midterms.
Socioeconomic disadvantages continue to anchor this anxiety. Recent Federal Reserve Bank of Boston data indicates that the median net wealth for Latino families in the state sits at just $1,200. This lack of asset equity leaves families incredibly vulnerable to immediate inflationary pressures, making pocketbook issues the primary driver of political engagement this cycle. More than half of the Latino voters surveyed confessed deep worry regarding their employment and personal finances, while 29% stated that recent price increases are inflicting a severe level of economic hardship.
For many, the strain is no longer just a structural statistic, but a disruptive daily calculation that determines their political priorities.
“That was the top issue that everyone was concerned about — inflation, particularly with lower income voters and middle-class voters, who are having trouble making ends meet,” said Richard Parr, the senior research director at the MassINC Polling Group, analyzing the widespread community pressure driving voters to the polls.
This economic reality is directly influencing how community leaders assess candidate platforms during this midterm season. While the demographic represents a vital pillar of the state’s future workforce, voter conversion has historically lagged due to deep-seated systemic challenges—a dynamic advocacy groups are desperate to change before Election Day.
“This research sends a powerful message: the future of Massachusetts cannot be understood without understanding Latino communities,” explained Lorna Rivera, Director of the Mauricio Gastón Institute for Latino Community Development and Public Policy at UMass Boston. “The question is not whether Latinos will shape Massachusetts’ future; they already are. The question is whether our institutions, policies, and political systems are listening.”
As candidates make their final midterm pitches before ballots are cast, advocates emphasize that traditional partisan narratives often fail to grasp the nuanced pressures facing these families. The heavy economic burden has left a significant portion of the electorate feeling overlooked by both major parties.
“Price gouging, or excessive rental costs, is a reality here in Massachusetts,” noted Eneida Román, CEO of Amplify Latinx, highlighting housing affordability as a pivotal issue that state leaders must address to capture these votes.
With midterm election deadlines looming, community organizations are pushing to translate this financial frustration into civic action, warning that whichever party manages to offer credible relief to struggling households will likely hold the key to the state’s shifting political future.