Bridgeport State Rep. Chris Rosario, a State House deputy speaker who represents Connecticut’s largely Latino 128th District, writes in this commentary winning back key voting blocs “requires addressing pressing issues such as affordable housing, access to mental health support, youth violence prevention, and meaningful workforce development. For Connecticut’s urban and blue-collar residents, these aren’t just campaign points — they’re essential to their everyday survival.”
The 2024 presidential election has delivered a wake-up call, particularly for Connecticut Democrats. With Donald J. Trump now president-elect, we’ve witnessed a surprising shift in support from communities that have traditionally been the backbone of our party — especially Latino, urban, and working-class voters. This shift is not just a signal; it’s a warning that we must make adjustments now if we hope to win back their trust and commitment.
Across Connecticut, the challenges facing these communities are mounting. Economic hardships, unaffordable housing, and the lack of access to essential services have left many feeling abandoned by the very leaders they have long supported. In cities such as Bridgeport, blue-collar workers and Latino families often hear about progress but rarely feel its benefits. These residents are struggling daily, and unless we address their concerns directly, they will continue to drift from our party.
President-elect Trump’s gains among urban and Latino voters, including in Bridgeport, are clear indicators of economic discontent. Despite the divisive rhetoric, he captured a significantly larger share of urban, Black, and Latino voters than in previous elections. In Bridgeport alone, nearly 6,000 votes for Trump came from Democrats and unaffiliated voters, many of whom are Black, Hispanic, and working class. For these voters, economic concerns took priority, as they grappled with the rising cost of living, job insecurity, and wages that don’t meet their needs.
To regain the trust of these voters, Connecticut Democrats must go beyond slogans. We need to show a real, consistent commitment to the Latino and working-class communities that are essential to our party. This requires addressing pressing issues such as affordable housing, access to mental health support, youth violence prevention, and meaningful workforce development. For Connecticut’s urban and blue-collar residents, these aren’t just campaign points — they’re essential to their everyday survival.
Moreover, Connecticut Democrats need to make a dedicated effort to engage with Latino communities in particular. Latino families in our state face unique challenges, from language barriers in accessing services to the need for culturally relevant health care and education. They’ve contributed so much to the fabric of our state, yet they often feel overlooked. It’s time for us to ensure our policies and outreach efforts reflect their needs and recognize their contributions.
While our party’s leaders are right to address the needs of the middle class, we cannot afford to neglect those at the economic margins — the blue-collar workers, Latino families, and others working to escape poverty. These communities deserve a government that doesn’t just pay attention to them in election years but prioritizes them consistently. They deserve action and solutions that make a real difference.
The 2024 election has underscored the importance of making these adjustments. If Connecticut Democrats don’t heed this message, we risk seeing further gains for Republicans among urban, working-class and Latino voters. Republicans are beginning to realize that even modest success in these communities — earning 25-30 percent of the urban and Latino vote — can shift the balance of power both locally and statewide.
It’s time for Connecticut Democrats to renew our commitment to Latino, urban, and working-class communities. By listening, acting, and proving that we remain the party of working people, we can rebuild trust and strengthen our connections with those who feel unseen and unheard. The message from this election is unmistakable: if we want to move forward, we must focus on those who have been left behind for too long.
It will take the disastrous socioeconomic effects of Trump’s policies (or lack thereof) to shock the electorate back into a state of sensible voting mind-set.
Goeff, you just don’t see it. Do You?
That disastrous socioeconomic effects is what the Ds produced to shocked the electorate, black to Latino to abandon it mindset. It seems sensible, No?
John, I own you a response based on our “friendship” and your civics education. I am posting it here. Is that Ok? On the best ESL class ever.
John Marshall Lee says:
November 10, 2024 at 3:45 pm
Does your Google source ever intimate that at the start of the ultimate confrontation in South Carolina, the “plantation owner class” was in ascendance? The way to guarantee profits into the future seemed a form of Western expansion of enslavement.
As Lincoln took office, and held office for the most part under Civil War conditions, states in opposition, and men in uniform fighting and dying while the President sought to unify the nation…..how great does that look? Federal troops in the South to secure gains until they were pulled by a different party in Washingon, and the period of resistance to the rights of people of color continued under the brand of “Jim Crow” with a secret “white sheeted”group to carry out visible terror. Is that the GREAT in Make America Great Again? And you wander around quibbling about “coded words and sides” ?
Keep it simple. Use your plain words, phrases, and paragraphs to expose your thinking if you wish a response.
I am currently writing and speaking about CIVICS education for the youth, at least, of the community. It takes time, energy, and spiritual resources to commit to the process. Is that something that floats your boat and encourages greater participation? Time will tell.
For starters. I will keep is SIMPLE. For the most part it’s the only way I know how. You stated, I am wander around quibbling about “coded words and sides”? However, you failed to ANSWER, if I am wrong. Is there coded words and sides? Do you identify with them. Do you use them in you writing/education of the youth? If so, no wonder why it takes time, energy, and spiritual resources to commit to such a process.
I don’t think America can honestly say, coded or in its simplicity the period of resistance to the rights of people of color in the subjugation and discriminate. However, is it fair to say such “Resistance” and subjugation and discriminate pertained to WHITE people too, such as the Irish in America?
Perhaps, in a coded side world. If one exists. Does it? If so, then such subjugation and discrimination goes beyond race. Is that fair to say in its simple form.
I am aware, thanks to my Google source of the brand of “Jim Crow” with a secret “white sheeted” group to carry out visible terror among blacks in America, practically in the south. While you omitted that the white sheeted group produced hate and terrorized Catholics and Jews, among other groups her in our ESL. do you include such facts in your CIVICS education for the community youths?
According to my google source, there are other groups who don white garb, who people of color feel victimized and terrorized by, to this day. Though perhaps less visible. is that better or worse?
Blacks were extreme “fair” to allow the “government” to “protect” them for Covid. I wonder why? Though perhaps, it’s GROUNDED in ways to guarantee profits into the future.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YS05IguFup8
Speaking of Western expansion of enslavement. How far back does your sources go, coded or in its SIMPLICITY on enslavement for profits? Was it just in America white thing? According to my sources every shade and race has been on both sides of that coin, enslavement and mater, Even Blacks here in that western expansion held that mater title. What say your sources, Am I wrong.
As for as what floats your boat, to encourages greater participation. What, recourse of your give you the impression I own boat. Are you using coded words. Let’s keep it SIMPLE, “JOHN” 🤣
To be fair, I did own a boat thought, spent a lot of drugs dealing profits on it. However, what (🙋♂️) my (🍆)?
It had a prostitute. (⭕) on the hull. 🤣
Good ⌚s people, 🙃
Decode people, decode.
Still waiting on those pandas. 😇
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQlIhraqL7o