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CV NEWS FEED // The Latino vote in the U.S. will likely be driven by financial and economic issues, according to a recent survey from Latino civil rights organization UnidosUS.
The top issue identified by the survey was inflation, with 59% of the 3,000 respondents considering it the most important issue for them. Thirty-nine percent said jobs and the economy was the most important issue, while 31% said they wanted to see the lack of affordable housing and high rents addressed by the next administration.
According to the Democratic-leaning organization, Latinos are also concerned with immigration, gun violence, and abortion bans.
“Our new poll shows that the rising cost of living, wages and housing costs continue to be top of mind for Latino voters,” Janet Murguía, president and CEO of UnidosUS, said in a news release, adding:
And on immigration, Latino voters know the difference between those who mean us harm and those who are contributing to the fabric of our nation—their top priorities are relief for the long-residing undocumented population and cracking down on human smugglers and drug traffickers.
In a report on the survey, UnidosUS stated, “We have long known that access to homeownership is a critical path towards building generational wealth and have advocated to break down the barriers that Latinos face in buying a home.”
“It’s time for candidates to support increased investment into the Latino community, including through expanding homeownership pathways,” UnidosUS later added.
Twenty-five percent of respondents reported issues with healthcare insurance, which UnidosUS said is also an issue for 10 million Latinos across the country.
“In addition, nearly 4 million Latinos with health benefits face high-deductible charges, with families having to pay at least $2,800 to access basic care and more than 1 million Latinos averaging deductibles over $5,000,” UnidosUs reported.
The survey also asked respondents whether Democrats or Republicans have a regard for Latinos. Fifty-two percent said that the Democratic party cares “a great deal” about Latinos, while only 27% said the same thing about the Republican party.
An additional 26% viewed the Republican party as hostile towards Latinos, with only 7% saying the same thing about Democrats. Roughly the same percentage said that Democrats and Republicans “don’t care too much” about Latinos.
“On priority issues overall, Democrats are more trusted than Republicans. However, more than a quarter of Latino voters do not clearly see either as a champion of their concerns, with 28% saying neither, both or don’t know which party would be better at addressing their priority issue,” UnidosUS reported.
The survey also found that Latino voters are “eager” to participate in this year’s election. Seventeen percent said the 2024 election would be their first time voting in a presidential election, with 61% responding that they will vote early or mail in their ballots.
“Hispanic voters will be decisive this November, a fact made more real by a landscape of razor-thin margins,” Clarissa Martínez De Castro, vice president of UnidosUS Latino Vote Initiative, stated in the survey report. “Yet only 23% of Latino voters say they have heard from Democrats and 16% from Republicans … It is imperative for candidates to connect with these voters and provide concrete solutions to their concerns to gain their confidence and earn their votes.”
