The growing political power of Pennsylvania’s blossoming Latino community is already well documented.
And as we enter the middle of the midterm campaign season, it is also becoming abundantly clear that Latino voters – a diverse coalition whose loyalty cannot be taken for granted – are also discovering – and using – their voices to raise their voices on behalf of the host of issues.
A recent survey voters in nine battleground states, including Pennsylvania, provide further clarity on these priorities, with overwhelming majorities saying Congress should take steps to protect Dreamers if a federal court strikes down the federal law Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program and work to stabilize the country’s agricultural workforce to lend a hand stem rising food prices.
Survey conducted by Hart’s research collaborators AND UAV research also shows that despite Republicans are trying to exploit immigration the challenges facing Democrats this campaign season have not diminished voter support for reform issues.
Seven in 10 of all respondents, including 82 percent of Latino voters, three-quarters of swing voters (76 percent) and independents (74 percent), agree with the Democrat-backed argument that undocumented immigrants should be provided a path to citizenship.
Evidence of the strength of sentiment among Latino voters is clear in the numbers. Half of all Latino respondents told pollsters they personally knew someone who was undocumented. According to pollsters, nearly a quarter (23 percent) of Latino voters have an undocumented family member.
“The key to Democrats winning the immigration debate is not silence, but holding Republican politicians accountable for an extreme agenda that is out of step with Americans,” he added. Sergio Gonzalesexecutive director of the advocacy group Immigration centerwho commissioned the survey, together with Service Employees International Union– wrote in the statement.
Pollsters considered the opinions of 1,618 likely voters in congressional districts and battleground states, with U.S. Senate contests taking place from delayed July to early August.
Voters based in Bucks County, Pennsylvania 1st Congressional District, 7 AND 8. Congressional Districts in the Lehigh Valley and northeastern Pennsylvania and 17th district in southwestern Pennsylvania, took the survey. The sample also includes 800 likely Latino voters who were interviewed online and by telephone.
The poll confirms what is already widely known: Democrats are vulnerable to Republican attacks on border security issues.
About one million illegal immigrants have been temporarily allowed into the country until their cases are resolved – the New York Times reported on Tuesday.. This cohort is separate from the thousands who entered the country illegally early on President Joe Biden term of office, the newspaper reported.
However, the poll shows that if Democrats manage to refine their message, they will be able to counter Republican attacks. But as proponents made clear last month, Latino voters in the Keystone State they are deeply skeptical and do not want to easily transfer their support.
“Latino voters are not apathetic, but unconvinced.” Rafał Collazofrom the advocacy group UnidosUS, told reporters during a press call last month that he painted a pretty stark picture of the gap in the Big Two party’s reach.
Still, overall polling data shows Latino voters leaning toward Democrats who say they are put off by Republican xenophobia, giving Democrats a chance to win as Election Day approaches.
“Voters in key battleground states, including swing and Latino voters, not only reject the GOP’s extreme anti-immigrant agenda, but continue to strongly support pro-immigration solutions, including protections for our nation’s Dreamers, farmworkers, [Temporary Protected Status] property owners and undocumented immigrants, Gonzales he said.
