2024 Latino Voters Hand Candidates Their Priorities, and a Warning

Hispanic voters go to the polls for early voting at the Miami-Dade Government Center in Miami on Oct. 21, 2004. (G. De Cardenas/Getty Images)

During a Nov. 30 virtual news conference, UnidosUS, the country’s largest Latino civil rights and advocacy organization, unveiled its first-of-a-kind Hispanic Electorate Data Hub, which shows the sentiments of Latino voters across the country regarding the 2024 election, the issues, and their priorities.

This includes the results of expansive polls conducted among the Hispanic electorate on a national level, with a special focus on Latino sentiments in Florida.

According to a Nov. 9 report by the U.S. Census Bureau, the largest racial demographic group in 2022 was non-Hispanic whites at 58.9 percent, followed by Hispanics at 19.1 percent and non-Hispanic blacks at 12.6 percent.

According to USA Facts, non-Hispanic whites was the largest racial or ethnic group in Florida in 2022. Numbering 11.6 million, the group made up 52.3 percent of the population. The Hispanic/Latino population, which saw the most growth between 2012 and 2022, increased to 6 million from 4.3 million, placing the group at 27.1 percent of Florida’s population.

As noted by UnidosUS President and CEO Janet Murguía, “Hispanics are the second largest group of voting-age Americans and a critical factor in the race for the White House, Congressional balance of power, and beyond.”

The results of the survey provide a strong message and a warning to candidates hoping to get their vote in 2024.

Priorities

Asked about the most important issues that elected officials should address in 2024, 60 percent of U.S. Latinos chose inflation and the rising cost of living, 45 percent chose jobs and the economy, and 33 percent chose health care as top priorities.

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Addressing crime and gun violence ranked fourth, high rent and the lack of affordable housing ranked fifth, immigration ranked sixth, and government corruption took seventh place among respondents’ most important issues.

Education, border security, Social Security/Medicare, and access to abortion ranked eighth, ninth, 10th, and 11th, respectively.

Climate change came in 13th on the scale of importance, with just 9 percent ranking it among their top priorities.

Among Florida’s Latinos, the top three issues are consistent with and in the same order as those expressed by Latinos nationally. While immigration isn’t as much of a concern as it has been in the past, as a group, they “STRONGLY” support a path to citizenship for Dreamers and long-term illegal immigrants as their top two concerns with immigration. Border security ranked a “distant third.”

Florida’s Latinos also oppose restrictions on abortion access by a margin of 65 percent to 28 percent.

The Issues

On the issues of handling gun safety and mitigating school shootings, 33 percent said Democrats were better suited, and 31 percent said Republicans were.

Regarding classroom teaching and school curriculum, Democrats edged a 1-point advantage over Republicans, at 34 percent to 33 percent, respectively.

While 34 percent of Latinos believe that Democrats are better at protecting voting rights, 32 percent said the same of Republicans.

On protecting access to abortion, 38 percent favor Democrats and 30 percent favor Republicans.

Regarding a political party’s ability to protect Medicare, 40 percent trust Democrats, and 28 percent put their faith in Republicans.

The only issue that Latinos on a national level believe that Republicans are better suited to handle than Democrats is immigration, at 40 percent to 30 percent, respectively.

Among Florida’s Latinos, however, 34 percent believe Republicans are better suited to handle their concerns, and 30 percent say the same of Democrats.

Senator and President

In the contest for U.S. Senate between incumbent Sen. Rick Scott and Democratic challenger Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, 42 percent said they plan to vote for Mr. Scott, with 29 percent being certain and 13 percent leaning that way.

Just 18 percent said they’re certain they'll vote for Ms. Mucarsel-Powell, with 14 percent leaning that way. But there’s still room for the numbers to shift, as 26 percent of those surveyed said they’re still unsure about which candidate will get their vote.

Of concern for President Joe Biden, 57 percent of Florida’s Latino voters said they disapprove of his job performance, and 36 percent said they approve.

While 76 percent of Florida’s conservative Latinos disapprove of President Biden’s job performance, half of moderate Latinos and 41 percent of liberal Latinos disapprove.

In the presidential race, Florida’s Latino sentiments offer a warning to two candidates.

In a hypothetical matchup for the presidency between President Joe Biden and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, President Biden defeats Mr. DeSantis, 44 percent to 37 percent, although 19 percent remain uncertain.

In a hypothetical matchup between President Biden and former President Donald Trump, 45 percent said they’re leaning toward casting their ballots for President Trump, and 39 percent say they’re leaning toward President Biden. Only 16 percent said they remain uncertain.

In addition, 19 percent of Florida’s Latinos will be voting in a presidential election for the first time in 2024, and 15 percent will be voting for the first time in any federal election.

Overall, 35 percent of Latino voters in the Sunshine State have been added to the voting rolls since the 2016 presidential election.