Latinos are increasingly disaffected with Donald Trump but remain open to supporting candidates, including Republicans, who demonstrate support for a comprehensive policy agenda that emphasizes economic opportunity, better healthcare, and the embrace of immigrants.
These were among the key takeaways from a new 2020 National Latino Electorate Survey released by UnidosUSTuesday morning via webinar from its national headquarters in Washington, DC. UnidosUS—formerly the National Council of La Raza, and the nation’s largest Latino civil rights and advocacy organization—released results of the poll of 1,854 eligible Latino voters, conducted by Latino Decisions during the first two weeks of June.
The poll also confirmed that a solid majority of Latinos are disaffected with the policies and politics of President Trump who, despite his repeated boasts of rising support among Latinos, has made no headway with Latino voters since his 2016 election. “The president seems to be holding the margin of support he had among Latinos when elected in 2016,” said Clarissa Martínez de Castro, UnidosUS Deputy Vice President for Policy and Advocacy. “His claims of rising support have no basis in reality.”
Looking ahead to 2020, 62 percent of Latinos in the poll said they will support the as-yet-determined Democratic presidential nominee, 21 percent support the re-election of Donald Trump, with 17 percent unsure or undecided. “We don’t have any evidence showing growing Latino support for Trump,” echoed Sylvia Manzano of Latino Decisions. “Support remains in the 18-20 percent range.” Coincidentally, later that night Vice President Mike Pence headlined a “Latinos for Trump” campaign event in Miami.
According to the UnidosUS poll, Latino voters favor 2020 presidential candidates who support a mixed policy agenda that emphasizes economic gains, affordable and accessible health care, and immigration reform. Latinos also want a president who embraces diversity and can bring voters together. “They care about substance,” said Martinez de Castro, adding that “Latinos [also] want to see a candidate who embraces the nation’s diversity.”
Specifically, 76 percent of Latinos in the poll said they seek a 2020 presidential candidate who “values diversity and brings people together,” with a nearly identical 74 percent saying they want a candidate who “fights for my priorities.” Summarizing their overall mood, Manzano said: “Latinos want to be respected, and have had enough of division. But they also want somebody who can get things done.”
Martinez de Castro emphasized that many Latinos are swing voters, and cited the 11.5 million estimated unregistered Latinos as a pivotal, yet untapped source of electoral support. “For the most part, neither party has approached these voters,” she lamented, adding that more than 80 percent of registered Latinos vote during presidential election years. “There is a potential to court these voters, but Latino voters are frustrated with how Trump and his allies have treated Latinos.”
Three clear issues dominate Latinos’ policy focus: jobs, health care and immigration. Asked to cite issues of importance to them, “jobs and the economy” led as the first choice of 23 percent of respondents, with health care second (17 percent), and immigration third (15 percent). Said Martinez de Castro: “Newsflash: No, Latinos are not a monolith. However, polling over last decade shows that there is an issue set broadly shared by the community,” including a prosperous economy, healthy communities and a welcoming attitude toward immigrants.
Among Latinos who cited immigration as their top priority, many cited deportation, border policy and the anti-immigrant posture of the Trump administration as important factors. Two-thirds of Latinos (66 percent) said they were frustrated with “how Donald Trump and his allies treat Latinos and immigrants” and worry that the situation will worsen if Trump wins re-election. The UnidosUS poll results mirror a Fox News poll finding this week that a majority of all Americans now believe the Trump Administration’s immigration policies have gone too far.
Yet the new poll also shows that Latinos remain open to the possibility of supporting Republican candidates in the future. Although 63 percent of Latinos polled said they have never voted for a Republican, three-fifths of them said they would consider a Republican who shared their values and policy priorities.
