Ahead of Primary Day in Connecticut, Inflation, Wages, and Healthcare Costs Top Concerns for Latino Voters

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HARTFORD, Conn. — In advance of Connecticut’s primary elections this Tuesday, UnidosUS — the nation’s largest Latino civil rights organization — is highlighting the priorities Latino voters want elected officials to address. Based on the largest poll of Hispanic voters this cycle, this influential electorate wants to see action to address the rising cost of living, wages and healthcare costs. With at least one competitive U.S. House seat, Connecticut could play a role in the battle for control of Congress, underscoring the need for political parties and candidates to engage with Hispanic voters and address their greatest concerns.

“Hispanics are the second largest voting-age population in Connecticut. With more than 100,000 Latinos eligible but in need of registration, outreach and investments to close the voter registration gap would pay significant dividends, given that more than 83% of registered Latinos cast a ballot in 2020,” said Clarissa Martinez De Castro, Vice President of the UnidosUS Latino Vote Initiative.

Full results of the poll are available in the UnidosUS Hispanic Electorate Data Hub, a newly released multidimensional platform that provides data and insights on this electorate spanning the last two decades. The following outlines key findings on the Hispanic electorate.

On the issues:

  • Economy: Four of the top five concerns for Hispanic voters nationwide are dominated by economic and pocketbook issues, specifically inflation and the rising cost of living, wages, healthcare costs, and housing affordability — which notably rose to the top five concerns for the first time. 
  • Gun violence: The 4th top priority, with voters concerned about ease of access to guns and assault weapons.
  • Abortion: 71% of Latino voters believe it is wrong to make abortion illegal or take that decision away from others, no matter their own personal beliefs on the issue.
  • Immigration: While not in the top five priority issues, immigration is ranked higher than it was in 2022. Top action items include providing a path to citizenship for long-residing undocumented individuals and Dreamers; the lowest support of any issue in the battery is for finishing the wall or mass deportations.

On voting:

  • In 2024, 22% of Latinos in the United States will be voting in a presidential election for the first time.
  • 38% of the Hispanic electorate nationally will be composed of new voters since Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump faced off in 2016.