FIU’s Latino poll — key findings before its release (includes video story)

The growing influence of Latino voters in swing states could be the deciding factor in the upcoming presidential election. Florida International University is working on a poll set to be released just four days before election day that may offer key insights into how this crucial demographic will vote.

“We got them registered. Now we need them to vote,” said Eduardo Gamarra, FIU professor and director of the FIU Latino Public Opinion Forum, on the importance of getting students to the polls.

The Forum is an initiative that tracks public opinion trends among major Latino and Hispanic groups in the U.S. using a systematic and scientific approach. Despite large registration numbers, many Latinos do not always vote. 

In the 2020 election, for instance, only about half of the 30 million registered Latinos cast their ballots. So far this year, 36 million Latinos have registered.

“We are the second largest community in number, but the media pays more attention to African Americans because they seem to care more — because at the end, they cast their vote,” expressed Gamarra on the low participation in elections. 

To better understand this behavior, the Forum will release a Latino poll focused on swing states on Nov. 1, but Professor Gamarra, as the director, was able to share some early findings. 

He noted a significant gender gap among Latino voters, with men tending to support Donald Trump while women leaning more toward the Democratic vote, holding more liberal views.

To discuss these topics, FIU in Washington, D.C. hosted a panel of bipartisan experts to dissect campaign strategies. They explained to Caplin News how each campaign is approaching the Latino community and shared their candidates’ views on these advance findings.

 “I don’t really think [Democrats] have an understanding of what Latino men want when it comes to strong leadership,” said Brad Bauman, founder of White Dudes for Harris.

Lianna Farnesi from the National Republican Campaign Committee highlighted a pro-faith and pro-family message aimed at Latino women, suggesting that it’s an area where Kamala Harris may struggle to connect.

“President Trump is just being himself, and that voice is resonating with Hispanics all over the country,” she added.

As Election Day nears, Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump joined a Univision town hall for undecided Hispanic voters, with Harris tuning in from Nevada and Trump from Miami. Both appearances underscore the fierce battle for the Latino vote ahead of Nov. 5.

Grecia Pacheco is a senior majoring in digital journalism. Appassionate with the truth and the news reporting, her career pathway is orientated to politics and international relations based on her goal to keep people informed about the importance of democracy and its impact on modern society.