“I will vote for Trump”: Florida Puerto Ricans and the 2024 Election

• In Event: Racial and Ethnic Minorities Section Roundtables Session
  In Refereed Roundtable (90 minute): Table Four: Racialized Politics and Activism within the United States and Latin America

Abstract

In this presentation, we examine how Florida Puerto Ricans made sense of the 2024 presidential election, how they negotiated political and socioeconomic issues, and evaluated candidates. We do so by drawing on a unique data set of focus group interviews with Puerto Ricans that were conducted in Florida during fall of 2024 when campaigning for the general election was in full swing. Our preliminary analysis finds three themes capture critical areas for interest and negotiation among focus group participants during the 2024 presidential election cycle: economic challenges, political skepticism, and persistently dire conditions in Puerto Rico. We argue our findings are a product of structural inequalities that shape individuals’ socioeconomic positionalities, views of the political system, and perceptions of candidates.

Authors

• Fernando I. Rivera, University of Central Florida

• Ariana Jeanette Valle, University of California-Davis