DISCLOSURE: I am an American Citizen; 27-year Expat. I am an independent voter. I have never belonged to any of the U.S. Political parties.
As Americans increasingly choose to live outside the United States, Mexico has become the top destination, hosting over 1.5 million U.S. expats. With Americans voting from abroad, this population forms a unique and influential voting bloc in U.S. elections. Their political influence is amplified by their growing numbers and their predominantly Democratic leanings and it just a few days, their presence will be felt by the U.S. political parties.
A Strong Democratic Lean
Among American expats in Mexico, 54% align with the Democratic Party, a significant percentage that aligns with broader trends among U.S. citizens living overseas. Only 33% percent lean Republican while the rest are independent.
This strong Democratic inclination reflects many expats’ progressive views on social issues, economic equity, and international cooperation. Moreover, Democratic policies on immigration and inclusive rhetoric resonate more with expats who live in a nation where culture, language, and customs differ vastly from their own.
In Mexico, Democrats Abroad is very active. They are on it and reaching out to American Expats and have been for years.
I am unaware of a Republican Party presence in Mexico. I tried searching and nothing popped up. If anyone out there knows something I don’t, let me know and I will be happy to link back to them so their supporters can reach out.
Anyways, in my view, the 54% support is suspect because there are NO official stats. It is just a few companies taking surveys. They are giving out their best guess.
TOO LOW?
In fact, in my experience, that 54% number is way too low. It’s rare to find a U.S. Republican voter in Mexico.
One of the main reasons is that the whole platform of the new Trump Republican Party is based on White Nationalism and Xenophobia. And that just does NOT fly with Mexicans. Most of those Trump-Party people would NEVER even consider going to Mexico; not even on vacation.
SideNote: I manage an incredible substantial Earthbag BnB Project in Baja Mexico called Hacienda Eco-Domes and we get to know our guests always. And I can tell you that many of them openly talk about voting for Kamala and the Democrats. It’s on their faces! I have NEVER heard anyone admit they are voting for Trump! NOT 1 in 8 years! Maybe there was one person but they never said a thing so I would never know! They keep it quiet.
I mean, just consider last night at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Donald Trump held his long-awaited coming out rally where he and his invited speakers openly insulted Latinos and heckled Jews, Blacks, and so much more.
Heck, they even made fun of the whole state of Puerto Rico calling it a floating piece of garbage. No hyperbole, it was truly reminiscent of the NAZI AMERICA FIRST RALLY held there on February 20, 1939. It was a HATE RALLY! No other way to call it!
I mean with this open hostile racist attitude, how can they even consider coming to Mexico? But some do! I know! It’s weird, right?
Anyways, the majority of U.S. Republican voters move to Mexico as Expats to take advantage of the relatively inexpensive cost of living compared to the USA. In Mexico, their money goes 2-4 times farther than in the U.S.
For those living on Social Security, that makes a huge difference in their standard of living. They can afford an apartment and even get their place cleaned once a week. And it’s close to the USA so they can visit their families by car or just a short plane ride.
But let’s be clear, they are not interested in hanging out with locals. They generally keep to themselves and only hang with other American Expats. And they certainly would NOT wear their Trump Party support on their sleeve out in the general public. They get it! They are not welcome. So they generally keep it hidden.
Now, there are some rich upper-class well-to-do Americans who move to Mexico. But, as a percentage of the Expats, it’s a low number. But when they do, they generally move “Gringo-Landias” (American Only Communities) where they only socialize with their other Rich Americans. Within that group, they can find a few other like-minded where they can privately reveal their racism and xenophobia without being chastised or worse.
This group generally comes to Mexico to live The Privileged Life. The only Mexicans they see are the ones they employ to clean their big McMansions.
Just as in the Social Security group mentioned above, they are generally not interested in local assimilation and participation in culture. Mexico for them is just another place to live the high-life, throw their weight around, and flaunt their power and privilege with their friends. You’ll find them in the most expensive areas of Mexico; usually walled-off country clubs.
Voting Republican in Mexico: The Social Challenges
In Mexico, approximately 90% of the population resists what is seen as the open xenophobia and racial prejudice often associated with U.S. Republican rhetoric. Republican voters living in Mexico face social challenges due to these perceptions, as many Mexicans view Republican policies as antagonistic to their interests.
For Republican expats, this creates a unique social tension, given that they reside in a country where much of the population supports ideals that oppose such stances. This dynamic complicates their ability to fully engage with their local communities while maintaining their political identities.
On a personal note, in the last 8 years, I have only seen one (1) U.S.-plated car with a Trump bumper sticker. It was recently. It was a brand-new 2024 Truck with a Trump 2024 sticker.
While the Mexican people are fantastic, friendly, and kind, insulting them to their faces will NOT get a positive reaction. In lieu, to help, I approached this driver and politely let him know that, while in the USA law enforcement will protect his right to express his political views, in Mexico that right does NOT cross the border with him.
And while the Mexican police will always do their best to protect tourists, it’s hard to see them protecting someone who spits in their face. So I told him to either remove that sticker or at least cover it up. If not, his truck may get vandalized by someone who does NOT get his joke.
The Potential Electoral Impact
With over 1.5 million American expats in Mexico, the voting potential of this community is substantial. In recent elections, American voters abroad have played critical roles in swing states and closely contested races, providing pivotal support for candidates. Given their large numbers, the votes from American expats in Mexico can potentially sway electoral outcomes, especially in states with substantial overseas voter turnout.
Building Political Awareness
For many expats, the process of casting an absentee ballot can feel complex and distant. However, awareness campaigns and community-driven efforts by groups like Democrats Abroad aim to simplify the voting process and boost turnout among American citizens overseas. This could further amplify the political influence of American expats in Mexico and ensure that their voices are heard in future elections.
And without Republican local support and a change in platform and attitude, the future of American Expats in Mexico looks to continue to be dominated by Democrat voters with Republicans voters staying quiet. Stay Tuned! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE!
SOURCES
- Greenback Expat Tax Services offers data on the political preferences of American expats and highlights their Democratic leanings. They discuss the motivations and experiences that shape U.S. expats’ voting behavior abroad:
- MyExpatTaxes conducted a 2024 survey on U.S. expat voting concerns, providing valuable insights into the demographics and political attitudes of Americans abroad, especially in countries like Mexico. This source also covers the administrative and social challenges many expats face:
- Democrats Abroad is an organization focused on mobilizing Democratic voters abroad and has reported on the political dynamics and challenges American expats face, including absentee voting Contact them for help in registering and voting services:
#AmericanExpats #MexicoVotes #DemocratsAbroad #USExpatVotes #GlobalVoting #ElectionImpact #DemocratsInMexico #ExpatsForChange #VoteFromAbroad #MakeYourVoteCount #Trump #Kamala
Charles is the founder and owner of Global Thinkerz. He is also a writer, global citizen eco-activist, visionary, musician, artist, entertainer, businessman, investor, life coach, and syndicated columnist. He is also known as the music artist “Johnny Punish”; a name given to him by a bandmate during his Punk Rock years fronting the rogue underground punk band “Twisted Nixon”
His Expat home base since the late 1990s is Mexico. Charles was educated at the University of Nevada Las Vegas (1980-81) and California State University Fullerton (1981-1984) with studies in accounting, finance and business. He has been debt-free and building wealth since 1998.
Before the “internets” had been invented, he also owned and ran (5) national newspapers in the United States of America from 1987-1998. In addition, he created and ran the important online media sites; HireVeterans.com (2004-2020) and VT Foreign Policy (2004-2023).
Charles is married to Queen Albertina from Sinaloa Mexico (1985). Together they have 3 adult children and 7 grandkids. They live in Baja Mexico at the home they built together out of plastic bags and dirt (Super Adobe). Now they share the artistic piece with the world as a unique luxury BnB called “Hacienda Eco-Domes“.
Read Charles’s Full Bio at PunishStudios.com >>>
