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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Camila Gallardo
cgallardo@nclr.org
(305)215-4259
Responses demonstrate strong bipartisan Latino support for Medicaid expansion, minimum wage increase and equal pay laws for women
MIAMI—On the eve of the Florida gubernatorial debate between Republican Gov. Rick Scott and Democrat Charlie Crist, a poll commissioned by NCLR (National Council of La Raza) and the National Council of La Raza Action Fund (NCLRAF) demonstrates that 37 percent of Latino voters in Florida are still undecided about whom they will cast their ballot for in the race for governor. According to the poll of registered Latino voters, approximately 40 percent plan to vote for Charlie Crist, while 23 percent indicated they would vote for incumbent Gov. Rick Scott.
Approximately 18 percent of the state’s electorate is Hispanic, making them a critical voting bloc in statewide contests. The poll, conducted by Latino Decisions between September 26 and October 3, 2014, demonstrates that Latinos are energized about voting this November—in fact, 73 percent of those polled indicated they were certain that they would turn out this election.
“While undecided in the state’s top ticket contest, Latino voters are certainly energized to turn out and vote this November,” said Loren McArthur, Deputy Director of Civic Engagement for NCLR. “This provides a great opportunity for campaigns to reach out to Latinos and engage with them on the issues they feel are most critical to the community—which according to respondents of the poll were the economy, immigration and health care.”
Health care was a top-tier priority for Hispanic Floridians who indicated strong support for the expansion of Medicaid in the state. Despite increased coverage through the Affordable Care Act, many Floridians fall into the insurance coverage gap because Florida has refused to accept federal funding to expand their Medicaid program. Approximately 34 percent of those polled still do not have health insurance. According to the poll, almost 80 percent of Latino voters believe the state should accept federal funding to expand Medicaid, while approximately 66 percent said that they would be more likely to vote for a candidate who supports Medicaid expansion. Sixty-nine percent of Latino voters think the governor should use executive authority to expand Medicaid if the legislature fails to act on its own, including 54 percent of Republican Latinos.
Inaction on immigration has also been a rallying issue for Latino voters. Nearly eight times as many respondents believe that the lack of progress on immigration reform makes it more important to show up to the polls, compared to those who say it is a reason for sitting out of this election. Indeed, 22 percent of participants listed immigration as the most important issue this election, although fixing the economy remained the top priority for voters (24 percent). The poll showed overwhelming support for increasing the minimum wage (64 percent) and equal pay laws for women (94 percent).
“Latino voters’ policy priorities are clear, and it is also evident from what we’ve seen in the poll that Latinos continue to be issue-based voters” said Matthew McClellan, Executive Director of NCLRAF. “It’s up to both candidates to now clarify exactly where they stand on critical issues to Florida’s Hispanic community, like Medicaid expansion and immigration reform—it could make all the difference in some of the state’s most contested races,” concluded McClellan.
NCLR—the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the United States—works to improve opportunities for Hispanic Americans. For more information on NCLR, please visit www.nclr.org or follow along on Facebook and Twitter.
The National Council of La Raza Action Fund (NCLR Action Fund) works to expand the power and influence of the Latino community to shape public policy and opinion in ways that strengthen the nation and improve the social, civic and economic well-being of Hispanics through grassroots and national advocacy and lobbying. For more information about the NCLR Action Fund, please visit www.nclraf.org or follow along on Twitter.
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