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Contact: lppipress@luskin.ucla.edu

UCLA LPPI Releases First in Series of Data Briefs Highlighting Latino Voter Impact in Key and Swing States for the 2024 General Election 

The first brief focusing on Nevada shows a rapidly growing Latino electorate poised to play a decisive role in the control of the White House.

LOS ANGELES (July 31, 2024) – In 2024, Latino voters will have the power to decide the next presidential election and which party will control Congress. Growing by almost 4 million eligible voters nationally and representing half of the total growth in eligible voters since 2020, the potential impact of Latinos on elections is more significant than ever. To understand this growing demographic and the issues that motivate them, the UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute (UCLA LPPI) will release a series of data briefs utilizing the Latino Data Hub to focus on Latino voters in critical states and counties, starting with the swing state of Nevada. Subsequent data analyses will be published through the summer and fall, including Latino voter profiles for Arizona, California, Pennsylvania, and Florida.

The Nevada brief provides a comprehensive analysis of the state’s Latino electorate, detailing their demographic growth, economic participation, educational attainment, language proficiency, housing, health insurance, and connectivity. The key findings include:

• The Latino eligible voter population in Nevada has more than tripled since 2000, now making up 20.9% of the state’s electorate. 
• Latino eligible voters are the youngest racial or ethnic group of eligible voters in Nevada, with a median age of 37. Additionally, over a quarter of these voters are naturalized citizens.
• A significant portion of Latino voters are bilingual, with 45% speaking both English and Spanish. An additional 17% speak only Spanish, highlighting the need to invest in Spanish-language outreach.
• Latinos have the highest labor force participation rate at 74%, which is 10% higher than the rate for all eligible voters and almost 15% higher than for non-Hispanic whites. However, the median household income for adult citizen Latinos is $69,000, nearly $10,000 less than the median for non-Hispanic whites.
• Latino homeownership rates are lower than the state average, and Latinos face significant rent burdens in addition to the highest rate of overcrowded housing among major racial or ethnic groups in Nevada. 11% of Latinos live in overcrowded homes, more than twice the rate of all eligible voters.
• Latinos have the second-highest uninsured rates at 15%, more than twice as likely to be uninsured as non-Hispanic white and AAPI eligible voters.

“Latino voters played a pivotal role in the 2020 election, significantly supporting Joe Biden and contributing to his narrow margin of victory in Nevada,” said Rodrigo Dominguez-Villegas, director of research at UCLA LPPI. “This growing demographic not only underscores the increasing political influence of Latino voters but also highlights the necessity of targeted engagement and outreach. As we approach the 2024 election, understanding and addressing the unique needs and priorities of Latino voters will be crucial in shaping the future of Nevada and our nation’s leadership.”

“Our analysis highlights the critical role Latino voters will play in the 2024 elections,” said Juliana Phan, co-author of the brief and research analyst at UCLA LPPI. “Effective voter mobilization strategies that address language barriers, educational disparities, and economic inequalities are essential to engaging this growing electorate. The findings underscore the importance of understanding and responding to the unique characteristics of Latino voters to ensure their full participation in the democratic process.”

Read the full report.

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About UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute

The UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute is a non-partisan research institute that seeks to inform, engage, and empower Latinos through innovative research and policy analysis. LPPI aims to promote equitable and inclusive policies that address the needs of the Latino community and advance social justice. latino.ucla.edu.