UnidosUS Voter Poll: Pocketbook Issues Still Top Pennsylvania Latino Priorities

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Healthcare and gun violence 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 Pennsylvania’s Hispanic Electorate. The data shows that the top five priorities for Pennsylvania Latino voters, two months out from the election, are dominated by cost-of-living issues, in order: inflation, jobs and wages, crime and gun violence, healthcare, and affordable housing. 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.   

Rafael Collazo, UnidosUS director of political affairs, said, “More than half of Hispanic voters in Pennsylvania intend to vote prior to election day, either by voting early, mail-in ballot, or absentee ballot. Yet, 49% of Latino voters in the state say they have not been contacted about the upcoming election. Candidates should be redoubling their efforts to engage this decisive electorate and present concrete solutions to their top concerns — cost of living, wages and housing — to gain their confidence and earn their votes.”   

Key Findings Include:   

On the issues   

Pennsylvania 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.  
  • Crime/Gun Violence: The top concern is that guns and assault weapons are too easy to get. 
  • Healthcare: The costs of insurance and prescription medication are the driving concerns for Latinos. 
  • Housing: Top concerns are lack of affordable rentals or homes for sale, and rising rents.  

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 70% to 20% margin, Pennsylvania Latinos consistently oppose making it illegal or taking that decision away from others, no matter their own personal beliefs.   

On voting   

In 2024, 24% of Pennsylvania Latinos will be voting in their first presidential election.    

  • 38% of the Pennsylvania 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: 23% plan to vote early, 29% by mail and 48% on Election Day.   

  • 49% 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 28% of Latino voters responded “neither,” “both” or “don’t know” when asked which party would be better at addressing their priority issue.    
  • Vice President Harris holds a +35-point lead in support from Latino voters over former President Trump: 62% to 27%.   

Michael Toledo, President and CEO of Centro Hispano said, “At the Centro Hispano, we have been actively engaging with our constituents to ensure that every voice is heard in this year’s election. We’ve listened to the concerns and aspirations for their families and community. It’s clear that many see this election as a turning point for issues that directly impact their daily lives. From the economy to gun violence to quality-of-life issues like healthcare and quality education, they want to see a future where their children have the chance to be better off than they are. Our efforts have focused on empowering residents with the information and tools they need to participate fully in the democratic process, reinforcing the belief that their vote truly matters.” 

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.