The term did not resonate with many Latinos, particularly those in working-class communities, and is seen as artificially imposed rather than organic. Various polls indicate that only a small percentage (2%-3%) of surveyed Latinos actually use the term, with some blaming its adoption by white progressives for alienating Latino voters. Additionally, the term fails to grapple with complaints about the catch-all nature of the terms “Hispanic” and “Latino,” which are criticised for oversimplifying diverse identities.

High-ranking figures have instructed against using “Latinx” in official communications, citing lack of support and disconnect from the broader Latino community. Last month, Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), head of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus’ campaign arm, announced that his congressional staff is prohibited from using “Latinx” in official communications. In due course, a similar edict might be issued on use of the term “Latine”.

Recent polls show that Democratic President Joe Biden is losing favourability among the Latino community to his Republican rival, Donald Trump. The margin by which President Biden leads over former President Trump among all Latinos has decreased from 29 points, recorded during Biden’s initial year in office (53-24), to a mere nine points (41-32), a shift attributed to concerns surrounding inflation and crime. This is troubling news for Democrats as the 2024 elections advance.

Perhaps if Democrats want to win back the Latino vote they should drop the push for gender neutrality all together. The Spanish language is traditionally binary, which has upset progressives (even the word “non-binary” in Spanish would be “non-binaria” or “non-binario”, depending on the sex of the person).

Democrats have historically enjoyed a substantial advantage with Latino voters. But many working-class Latinos, particularly in swing states like Arizona and Nevada, are more concerned with economic issues such as inflation and the rising cost of living than with Democrats’ focus on gender and identity politics. The Biden administration’s failure to address these economic concerns could have costly consequences for Democrats in key electoral battlegrounds. Using trendy new terms like “Latine” will only serve to alienate them further.