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Policy Report Democracy & Voting Rights

Top Issues for Latino Voters in Swing States for the 2020 Election

This report provides evidence that shows why the economy, healthcare, the COVID-19 pandemic, and racial/ethnic inequality are the top four issues for Latino voters in the 2020 election. This report was co-authored by Dr. Donald Tomaskovic-Devey, director of the Center for Employment Equity at UMass-Amherst.

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Rodrigo Dominguez-Villegas Experts

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Overview:

With data from four states where Latino voters will decide the outcome of the 2020 presidential election — Arizona, Florida, Nevada, and Texas — this report shows that Latinos receive lower wages, are less likely to have health insurance, and have higher likelihoods of contracting COVID-19 than other demographic groups.

Key findings:

  • The majority of Latino workers earn less than $15 an hour in Arizona (53.9%), Florida (52.9%), and Texas (54.8%). In Nevada, almost half (49.9%) earn less than $15 an hour.
  • Latinos receive lower pay than white workers for doing similar work. The hourly wage difference between white and Latino workers in the same job with the same education is 2% in Arizona, 4.8% in Florida, 1.6% in Nevada, and 5.3% in Texas.
  • Latinos are more likely to be uninsured than any other demographic group in these four states. The proportion of Latinos without health insurance is 19% in Arizona, 21% in Florida, 21% in Nevada, and 29% in Texas.
  • Latinos are overexposed to the coronavirus and have disproportionate rates of infection. In Arizona, Latinos make up 32% of the population and 45% of COVID-19 cases. In Florida, Latinos make up 26% of the population and 38% of COVID-19 cases. In Nevada, Latinos represent 29% of the population and 45% of COVID-19 cases, and in Texas, they represent 40% of the population and 45% of COVID-19 cases.