A national survey of registered and eligible Latino voters found that the cost of living and the economy, jobs and housing affordability were considered among the most important and decisive issues for voting intentions in the 2024 elections, according to a new survey released on Wednesday.
The survey, carried out by the firm BSP Research for the Hispanic organizations UnidosUS and Mi Familia Vota, indicates that 54% of Latino voters consider the rising cost of living, especially food and other basic needs, to be the main issue that elected officials must attend to.
Labor issues, particularly low wages, represent the second priority with 44%, and those linked to health care, especially the high costs of medical care, the third with 33%.
Gun violence was the only non-economic issue among Hispanics’ top five priorities, ranking in fourth place with 29%. Of particular concern is the great ease of obtaining weapons, as well as mass shootings and those that occur in schools.
Concerns about the lack of affordable housing and high rents come in fifth place, at 25%.
Immigration issues, with 20%, continue to be important, but not as in previous years. The survey found that Latinos strongly favor a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants who came to the country as children, as well as better asylum and legal immigration policies, but express little support for any mass deportation initiative.
These issues are followed in descending order by those related to education, government corruption, abortion, social security, the covid-19 pandemic, climate change and pollution, racial discrimination, border security, spending government, foreign policy and police reform.
The survey also revealed that Hispanic voters think that Democrats would do a better job than Republicans of addressing almost all of their highest priorities and they perceive a better affinity of values with Democrats, although not by overwhelming margins.
President Joe Biden has a lower-than-expected approval rating ranging from 44 to 47%, and the Republican-controlled House of Representatives has a 31 to 50% approval rating.
48% of Latinos believe that the Democratic Party cares about their communitywhile 25% think the same about the Republican Party.
In the 2024 national elections, 22% of Latinos will vote in a presidential election for the first time, according to the organizations that commissioned this survey, which has a margin of error of 1.8% and was conducted on 3,037 eligible voters between November 2 and 13 of this year.
“In a landscape of close elections, Hispanic voters make a difference and underscore the need for parties and candidates to reach out to them in a meaningful way and respond to their priorities,” said Janet Murguía, president and CEO of UnidosUS, during a virtual conference in which the results of the study were presented.
This research shows that Latino voters are sending a warning message to both parties and continues to paint a clear picture that both parties need to do more to better engage and broaden support among Hispanic voters.
The survey is part of a multi-year national multi-state partnership between UnidosUS and Mi Familia Vota, a national civic engagement organization, and aims to achieve the full spectrum of civic engagement, connecting election programs, policy advocacy, public opinion research , citizenship and community engagement programs to elevate Latino voices.
Keep reading:
– Favorable opinion of Republicans declines in key districts ahead of the 2024 elections
– Americans trust local government more and Congress less
– Pride in being an American is near an all-time low, according to new survey