New poll shows Latino voters are most focused on inflation, gun violence in November midterms

A new poll released this week showed Latino voters’ top priorities heading in the November midterm elections are inflation and gun violence.

The UnidosUS/Mi Familia Vota poll, published this month, showed the top five policy issues on Latino voters’ minds this November behind inflation and gun violence are the economy and jobs, health care, and abortion. The issue of abortion made the top five issues on this poll for the first time this year, showing increased voter concern after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade earlier this year.

The poll also focused on specific policy proposals that may help alleviate their top concerns. To address inflation, Latino voters overwhelmingly supported legislation that aims to “Invest in working families including housing/rental assistance, health insurance assistance, and

investing in education to help students catch up after academic losses incurred during the pandemic.”

On the topic of gun violence, respondents most strongly supported “Universal background checks and mental health investments.”

“This survey shows that our diverse community is aligned on priority issues and wants Congress to produce solutions,” said executive director and CEO of Mi Familia Vota Héctor Sánchez Barba in a virtual news conference on August 10. 

In spite of their strong feelings on specific policy issues, only 59 percent of poll respondents said they were “100% certain” they would vote in the November midterm elections. The poll also showed Latino voters believe Republicans are better equipped to address issues related to the economy, while they believe Democrats are more adept at handling every other policy issue.

Overall, respondents said they found it more important that a candidate is “willing to work with both parties, and compromise to get things done” than any other trait, including ethnic background and experience in government.