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Democracy & Voting Rights

Latino Voters in California Nearly Twice as Likely to Struggle to Afford Basic Necessities

Among surveyed registered voters whose households receive Medi-Cal or CalFresh, 43% of Latino respondents said they would buy less food if benefits were reduced, while 36% anticipated delaying needed medical care.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: lppipress@luskin.ucla.edu

New UCLA Analysis Finds Latino Voters in California Nearly Twice as Likely to Struggle to Afford Basic Necessities

Research highlights financial insecurity among Latino voters as changes to public assistance programs start to take effect.

LOS ANGELES (October 29, 2026) — Latino registered voters in California are nearly twice as likely as non-Latino voters to report struggling to afford basic necessities, according to new research from the UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute (LPPI). 

The analysis draws on May 2026 polling data from UC Berkeley’s Institute of Governmental Studies (IGS). The survey includes 8,578 California registered voters, with 2,115 Latino respondents. Among surveyed registered voters whose households receive Medi-Cal or CalFresh, 43% of Latino respondents said they would buy less food if benefits were reduced, while 36% anticipated delaying needed medical care. These findings show what families think they would do if their benefits were cut, and suggest that cuts to Medi-Cal or CalFresh benefits could affect a household’s ability to meet basic needs.

Key findings include:

  • Financial insecurity: 23% of surveyed registered Latino voters reported struggling to afford basic necessities, compared to 12% of non-Latino respondents.
  • Falling behind on bills: Latino registered voters were twice as likely as non-Latino registered voters to report falling behind on rent, mortgage, or utility payments in the two months before taking the survey (18% vs. 9%).
  • Grocery spending: Similarly, 40% of Latino registered voters reported cutting back on groceries or on food quality in the two months prior to the survey, compared with 28% of non-Latino voters.
  • Public assistance: 38% of Latino registered voters reported that they or someone in their household receives  Medi-Cal or CalFresh, compared to 21% of non-Latino voters.
  • Financial concerns about the future: 76% of Latino registered voters reported being very worried about keeping up with rising expenses, compared to 61% of non-Latino voters.

The research comes as new federal restrictions under H.R. 1 reshape access to Medi-Cal and CalFresh, California’s healthcare and food assistance programs. The law expands work requirements and restricts eligibility for certain recipients, with additional Medi-Cal requirements taking effect in January 2027. These changes could place further financial pressure on households already struggling to afford basic necessities. 

“These findings reveal how deeply financial insecurity is affecting Latino registered voters across California,” said Arturo Bustamante, faculty research director at LPPI and co-author of the brief. “When families are falling behind on bills, cutting back on food, and taking on additional debt to cover everyday expenses, their ability to build long-term financial stability is increasingly at risk. With potential changes to public programs on the horizon, understanding these challenges is especially important for policymakers working to address the state’s affordability crisis.”

Read the brief. 

Also released today by LPPI, a companion brief explores the financial pressures associated with housing, utilities, extreme heat, and back-to-school expenses.

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About the UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute

The UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute is a nonpartisan 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.