UnidosUS Voter Poll: Pocketbook Issues Still Top Florida Latino Priorities

on

Immigration and healthcare round up the top five priorities for the state’s Latino voters  

WASHINGTON, DC – UnidosUS, the nation’s largest Latino civil rights and advocacy organization, today released findings from its 2024 Pre-Election Poll of Florida’s Hispanic Electorate. The data shows that the top five priorities for Florida Latino voters, two months out from the election, are dominated by cost-of-living issues – inflation, jobs and wages, and affordable housing. Immigration and healthcare were the fourth and fifth priorities respectively. Poll results, as well as upcoming additional Congressional district-level data for the Latino voting-age population provided by the USC Center for Inclusive Democracy, can be found in UnidosUS Hispanic Electorate Data Hub, launched last November to advance a more accurate understanding of this electorate.  

  • See a slide presentation of poll toplines here.    
  • Check out the interactive Hispanic Electorate Hub here.   

Jared Nordlund, UnidosUS’s Florida state director, said, “Our poll shows that economic concerns loom large for Hispanic Floridians, including the cost of basic necessities, wages, housing and healthcare costs. On immigration, the highest priorities are cracking down on smugglers and traffickers, and border security, with significant and continued support for legality and protection for long-residing undocumented immigrants. Latino voters are also expressing their strong and persistent opinions on abortion, with nearly 70% opposed to making it illegal or taking that decision away from others. It’s time for elected officials to prioritize real solutions that reflect the needs and aspirations of our diverse and decisive electorate, through multi-sector partnerships like UnidosUS’s work with the First Coast Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.” 

Key Findings Include:   

On the issues   

Florida Latino voters’ top five issues are largely consistent with Latinos across the country and continue to be dominated by pocketbook and economic concerns.   

  • Inflation: Food and basic necessities, housing/rent and gas prices are driving concerns about inflation.   
  • Jobs: Better pay and concerns about job security top the concerns about jobs and economy.  
  • Housing: Top concerns are lack of affordable rentals or homes for sale, and rising rents. 
  • Immigration: Cracking down on human smugglers and drug traffickers is the top concern. 
  • Healthcare: Costs of insurance and medication are the driving concern. 

On immigration, Latino voters favor a path to citizenship for long-residing undocumented immigrants and Dreamers; of the top 5 priorities, three relate to path to citizenship and protecting long-residing undocumented immigrants. 

On abortion, by a 68% to 24% margin, Florida Latinos consistently oppose making it illegal or taking that decision away from others, no matter their own personal beliefs.   

On voting   

In 2024, 26% of Florida Latinos will be voting in their first presidential election.    

  • 40% of the Florida Latino electorate is new since the 2016 presidential election.   

While a majority of Latinos are certain they will vote, many are still deciding.   

Early outreach is key: 33% plan to vote early, 31% by mail and 36% on Election Day.   

  • 60% say they have not been contacted this cycle by the parties or organizations.   

On the parties and candidates   

  • On priority issues overall, Democrats are more trusted than Republicans, but 27% of Latino voters responded “neither,” “both” or “don’t know” when asked which party would be better at addressing their priority issue.    
  • In the Senate race, Democrat Debbie Mucarsel-Powell holds a +4-point lead in support from Latino voters over Republican Rick Scott: 41% to 37% 
  • Vice President Harris holds a +5-point lead in support from Latino voters over former President Trump: 47% to 42%.   

Monica Hernandez, president and CEO of First Coast Hispanic Chamber of Commerce said, “While we are moving in the right direction, our community remains concerned about the economy, with issues like Florida’s inflation, job security and rising living costs consistently topping the list of priorities. As our city’s Hispanic community continues to grow, we need leaders who are committed to addressing these economic challenges head-on — by supporting small businesses, creating quality jobs and implementing policies that reduce financial strain on Latino families here in Jacksonville and beyond. Our community deserves an opportunity economy that is focused on ensuring stability for all, which is why partnering with a national organization like UnidosUS to champion our community’s needs is so critical for Jacksonville’s future.” 

Conducted by BSP Research with oversamples in Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Texas, the 2024 Pre-Election Poll of the Hispanic Electorate provides a more accurate and nuanced understanding of this decisive, but often misunderstood electorate, and serves as a follow-up to UnidosUS 2023 Pre-Election Poll.    

About the survey:  

Total N=3,000 Latino eligible voters  

  • N= 2,800 registered.  
  • N= 200 eligible, not registered.  
  • Margin of error +/- 1.8%.  

Oversamples  

  • N=300 per: Arizona, California, Georgia, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania (+/- 5.7%).  
  • N=400 Florida, Texas (+/- 4.9%).  

Field Dates: August 5-23, 2024  

  • English or Spanish, according to preference.  
  • Mixed mode: 75% online, 25% live telephone interviews.