NALEO – National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials

05/16/2022 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 05/16/2022 13:06

Just Released: Los Angeles Latino Voter Snapshot Poll

LOS ANGELES, CA- The National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) Educational Fund released today its Los Angeles Latino Voter Snapshot Poll, offering a comprehensive look at Latino voter preferences in key races and critical issues for the Latino electorate in Los Angeles:

According to the poll, Los Angeles City Councilmember Kevin de León and Businessman Rick Caruso are leading among Latino voters, at 17 percent and 15 percent, respectively. However, many Latino voters remain undecided, with 40 percent still unsure which candidate they would support if the mayoral election were held today. The poll also found that Latino voters view homelessness, inflation, and crime as the top three most pressing issues currently facing Los Angeles.

Latinos recognize the value of participation in the election, with 93 percent saying that voting for the mayor is important. Two-thirds (66 percent) had seen ads about the race, but only 36 percent had been contacted by mayoral candidates and campaigns. The poll also found that many Latinos lack information about voting in the election. More than 55 percent had not received information about how to vote by mail, and 30 percent said they did not know who to ask for a ballot, information about vote centers, or voting by mail.

"As the Latino community in Los Angeles continues to grow, so too does its political power, which is why the community is poised to play a major role in determining who becomes the next mayor of Los Angeles," said NALEO Educational Fund CEO Arturo Vargas. "As our poll clearly shows, many Latinos are still undecided - even as the race enters its final stretch. Latino voters represent a golden opportunity for the candidates in the golden state's largest city.

"Los Angeles' mayoral race is an opportune moment for establishing sustained Latino civic engagement. However, candidate outreach to Latino voters is lagging, and there is not sufficient voter education about the options for casting ballots. Furthermore, one thing remains true across the board - Latinos value electoral participation and care about the people who represent them. They will show up to vote and undoubtedly help shape the outcome of our local and national elections. Engaging with Latino voters consistently - and early on - is key to understanding the community's needs, concerns, and priorities - something everyone expects from their lawmakers."

Latinos are most likely to turn to family members, health care providers, and Hispanic or Latino community organizations for reliable information about important community matters. Furthermore, social media is the most frequented source for news among the group, followed by Yahoo News or Google News and Spanish-language outlets like Univision or Telemundo.

The Los Angeles Latino Voter Snapshot Poll comes on the heels of NALEO Educational Fund's 2022 Latino Vote Projections. In California, at least 3,251,000 Latino voters are projected to turnout in November, mirroring 2018's historic numbers and marking a 90.5 percent increase from 2014. Understanding the diverse and nuanced perspectives of this powerful electorate will be critical to engaging Latino voters. Our snapshot poll provides insight into many of these perspectives.