According to a recent Equis poll, Vice President Kamala Harris is performing better with Latino voters in key battleground states than President Joe Biden was just a few months ago. The poll shows Harris leading Donald Trump, the Republican nominee, by 19 points among registered Hispanic and Latino voters in states such as Arizona, Georgia, North Carolina, Nevada, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. This marks a significant improvement from Biden’s previous lead of 5 points over Trump. The latest poll surveyed 2,183 registered voters who identify as Hispanic or Latino in 12 states, with a margin of error of 2.9 percent for the full sample and 3.7 percent for the seven battleground states.
The survey also indicates that Harris has gained increased support among younger Latino voters, with those under the age of 40 favoring her by 17 percentage points more than they did Biden in early June. Additionally, her support among Latina women and Latino men has also seen a significant increase compared to Biden’s previous numbers. Despite these gains, Harris still falls short of the level of support that Biden received from Latino voters in the 2020 election. Harris’ support among Latino voters could prove to be crucial in the upcoming election, as she is the daughter of immigrants and the first woman of color to top a major party’s presidential ticket.
With an estimated 36 million eligible Latino voters in the 2024 election, up from 32.3 million in 2020, this demographic is projected to make up around 14.7 percent of all eligible voters in the United States in November. States such as Arizona and Nevada, where a larger share of eligible voters are Latino, could significantly impact the outcome of the election. Political science professor Costas Panagopoulos sees this shift in Latino support as monumental, especially in crucial battleground states like Arizona and Nevada. He believes that sustained support for Harris among Latino voters could play a decisive role in the upcoming election and potentially influence future elections as well.
The increase in Latino support for Harris carries implications for both the current election and future electoral outcomes. The shifting loyalties among Latino voters, who are currently up for grabs by either major party, can have a lasting impact on partisan alliances. Vote choices made in the 2024 election could shape long-term support for the Democratic Party among these voters. Panagopoulos emphasizes the significance of the sizable shift in Latino support, indicating that its effects can be both immediate and enduring, shaping the political landscape for years to come. Harris’ improved standing among Latino voters is thus a key factor to watch as the election approaches.
Overall, the latest polling data points to a significant increase in support for Vice President Kamala Harris among Latino voters in key battleground states. This shift could have major implications for the upcoming election in November, as Harris aims to secure the support of the Latino demographic. With an increasingly diverse electorate and growing numbers of eligible Latino voters, the outcome of the election may heavily depend on the level of support Harris can maintain in these crucial states. As the first woman of color on a major party’s presidential ticket, Harris’s candidacy has energized various voting blocs, making her a compelling figure for many voters, including Latinos.
