Although several polls reflect a small advantage for Kamala Harris over Donald Trump in the battleground state of Pennsylvania, the truth is that the race is still too close to call. Many analysts believe that the tight contest might come down to the all important Latino vote, as TelevisaUnivision estimates 318,000 Latino voters will participate in the elections this year in the state, a nearly 70% increase since Trump won the state in 2016 by approximately 44,000 votes.
On Tuesday, both parties got a glimpse into the issues that most concern Latino voter in the state as UnidosUS, the nation's largest Latino civil rights and advocacy organization, released findings from its 2024 Pre-Election Poll of Pennsylvania's Hispanic Electorate.
"Pennsylvania Latino voters' top five issues are largely consistent with Latinos across the country and continue to be dominated by pocketbook and economic concerns," explains the study, revealing that the top five issues for Pennsylvania Latino voters are, in order:
- 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.
According to UnidosUS Director of Political Affairs Rafael Collazo, although more than half of Hispanic voters in Pennsylvania plan to vote before Election Day, "49% of Latino voters in the state report that they have not been contacted about the upcoming election", an issue that has been reported nationwide by UnidosUS before.
"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," added Collazo.
The poll also revealed that 24% of Pennsylvania Latinos will be voting in their first presidential election in 2024, and 38% of the electorate is new since the 2016 presidential election. However, while a majority of Latinos are certain they will vote, many remain undecided. Early outreach is deemed crucial, with 23% planning to vote early, 29% by mail, and 48% on Election Day.
Overall, the findings reveal that Vice President Kamala Harris holds a significant lead among Pennsylvania Latino voters over former President Donald Trump, with 62% supporting Harris compared to 27% for Trump.
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