A study of swing state Latino voters by the Hispanic Federation unveiled surprise opinions contrary to common limited polling around the country.
The Hispanic Federation, a national nonprofit organization to empower Latinos in the United States, spoke on the results of a survey of swing state Latino voters. Results were unveiled at Centro Hispano, 2403 Cypress Way, overlapped with its El Mercadito, to discuss findings with the community. The survey is the largest comprehensive study of Latino voter opinions to date with a large sample size of 1,900 across battleground states for the presidential election.
Surveys on the same topic typically have a sample size of 50 Latinos across the country. Frankie Miranda, executive director of the Hispanic Federation, said the usual low sample sizes do not adequately represent Latinos across the United States.
With 1,900 in the Hispanic Federation’s survey, it hopes to better understand exactly what Latino voters care about in the coming presidential election.
“They don’t really take into consideration the diversity, the richness of our community and all the contributions that we make to this country.” Miranda said. “We decided that we were going to take back our narrative and that we were going to tell the most compelling story about Latinos in swing states.”
Polling took place in August in battleground states — Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin — among Spanish, English and bilingual-speaking Latinos.
The survey showed that 71% of Latinos have the intention to vote in the election. In Wisconsin 69% say they are certain they will vote and an additional 60% that they most likely will vote. The total accounts for 85% of eligible Latino voters in the state.
Enthusiasm overall increased to 60% for Latino voters after President Joe Biden dropped out of the race. For voters 18-29, enthusiasm is 65% more than before with Vice President Kamala Harris as the democratic candidate. For women in Spanish-speaking households, enthusiasm is 67%; in bilingual households 53%.
“This is a unique opportunity for groups at the center to be able to do the work that they have been doing,” Miranda said. “The door knocking, educating voters, engaging them, talking to them about their issues in a culturally competent, linguistically competent, way. This is fantastic news for our community.”
The survey also looked at top concerns for Latino voters in swing states. Cost of living, inflation, jobs, the economy and affordable housing ranked at the top. Miranda noted that these are similar concerns to a lot of voters, but it’s tied to the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 in Latino communities.
“Our community continues to be recovering slower than other communities. Sure, other communities say cost of living, inflation, but what exactly are the responses from candidates to the particular needs of the Latino community? That is what is at stake here,” he said.
In particular needs, farm workers and small businesses take priority. The National Center for Farmer Worker Health reports that 70% of agricultural workers in the U.S. are foreign born with 63% from Mexico.
The highest-growing group for small business openings is Latinas. Between 2007-2019, small businesses owned by Latinas grew 34% and 25% from 2020-2022, according to a study from the Stanford School of Business.
Other issues in the survey report opinions contrary to headlines, Miranda said. Headlines have said Latinos are moving away from progressive ideas, but the survey shows differently. Latinos show interest in reproductive rights, gun violence, immigration reform, income tax, a ceasefire to the genocide in Gaza, climate change, student loan debt and LGBTQ rights.
“This is what our community wants to hear from the candidates,” Miranda said. “It is not about the noise. It is not about [sic] one issue or contaminating one issue of the border and immigration and deportations.”
The survey showed that 64% of Latino voters in swing states are optimistic that Harris will provide solutions for issues. Polling shows that 64% of respondents are in support of Harris while 33% are for former President Donald Trump.
But 16% of Wisconsin Latino voters haven’t made up their minds. The Hispanic Federation sees the figure as an opportunity to educate voters on the presidential and congressional races to show how it impacts their lives. To do that, the Hispanic Federation awarded a $100,000 grant to Centro Hispano, FWD Latino and Voces de la Frontera for joint efforts to reach Latino voters in Wisconsin.
