Vice President Kamala Harris made a significant push for Latino voters during a recent town hall in Las Vegas, marking her first event aimed at this crucial demographic since securing the Democratic presidential nomination.
This session, organized by Univision, focused on questions from undecided Latino voters, giving Harris a prime opportunity to connect with them just weeks ahead of the election. Former President Donald Trump, her GOP rival, is set to participate in a similar forum on Univision on October 16.
Currently, Trump is drawing 38% support from Latino voters, reflecting the same level he had in 2020.
RONDA CHURCHILL/AFP via Getty Images
During her remarks, Harris emphasized that the upcoming 2024 election represents “an extraordinary time,” framing it as not just a political contest, but a pivotal moment for democracy and the Constitution.
Latino voters are poised to be influential in swing states like Arizona and Nevada, where they account for more than 20% of the electorate. Biden successfully captured both states against Trump in 2020.
A recent poll from The New York Times/Siena College indicates that Latino opinions in Arizona are nearly split, with 49% supporting Harris and 41% leaning towards Trump. Overall, Trump is slightly ahead in Arizona, with a 2-point lead on average (49% to 47%).
In Nevada, Harris holds a narrow lead (49% to 48%) according to the Times. A separate poll by USA Today shows she leads Trump among Latino voters 56% to 40%, although support among Latino men is waning. For example, 40% of Latino men aged 18 to 34 favor Harris, while 53% support Trump.
Polling from UnidosUS highlights that the primary concerns of Latino voters revolve around economic issues like cost of living, wages, housing, and healthcare. Immigration and crime also rank high on their list of priorities.
Interestingly, 45% of respondents believe Democrats are more capable of addressing these issues, while 28% feel neither party fully represents their interests.
Harris addressed her immigration stance under scrutiny, describing the system as “broken” and advocating for a “humane pathway to earned citizenship.” She also voiced support for a bipartisan border bill that had previously failed in the Senate, which aimed to strengthen border security and reduce migration.
In terms of addressing the rising cost of living, Harris reiterated her strategy to combat corporate price gouging and advocate for expanded child tax credits and new options for first-time homebuyers. “When you just lift up a little bit of the weight, people thrive and we all benefit,” she noted.