Election Results 2014: Latino Voters Say GOP 'Don't Care' About Their Community, Support Executive Action on Immigration
Ahead of casting their vote on Election Day, Latinos participated in a national survey to highlight their concerns and reasons for voting this year.
Although the Republican Party emerged victorious and won control of the U.S. Senate and maintained the House of Representatives majority on Tuesday night, Latinos' view of the GOP was not positive. When asked if they think the Republican Party "truly cares" about the Latino community, the majority, with 42 percent, said the GOP "don't care too much" about them. The second popular response was the Republican Party is "sometimes hostile" toward Latinos, which accounted for 23 percent of the poll.
Latinos were not overly negative about the Republican Party as 22 percent of respondents said the GOP "truly cares" about the Latino community. Fourteen percent were unsure.
In regards to the Democratic Party, more Latinos agreed Democrats truly cared for the Latino community, with 48 percent. However, 24 percent of Latinos said Democrats "don't care too much" about them while 12 percent have been hostile. Sixteen percent were unsure.
The majority of Latinos participating in the survey, conducted by Latino Decisions, identified themselves more as Democrats than Republicans, 56 percent to 35 percent, respectively. Outside of the two major political parities, Latinos also recognized themselves with a community organization or were unsure, with 32 percent and 25 percent respectively. Four percent of Latinos refused to identify themselves.
An important issue, not just among Latinos, but also with Americans has been immigration. Latinos, specifically, said immigration is among "one" of the important issues, with 34 percent. Immigration was "the most important" issue with 33 percent of Latino respondents, while 19 percent claimed it's "somewhat important." Nine percent shared that immigration is "not really important." Five percent said they didn't know how to rate the issue.
A majority of the Latino participants, with 40 percent, agreed with the statement, "The Republican Party has now become so anti-immigrant, and anti-Latino that it would be hard for me to consider supporting them."
With 24 percent, some Latinos said they agreed with the GOP on "most" issues, which was narrowly ahead of the 22 percent that "would consider" supporting the Republican Party in the future.
Related Article: Immigration Reform Bill "Going to Happen" if GOP Wins Senate, Says Mitt Romney
The Republican Party could witness alienation from the Latino community if the political party decides to block any action on immigration set forth by President Barack Obama. Overall, 63 percent of Latinos said they would feel more enthusiastic about the Democratic Party if Obama issues an immigration reform executive action this year, but 20 percent said they would be "less enthusiastic." If Republicans block Obama's action, 61 percent of Latinos said they will feel less enthusiastic about the GOP, although 24 percent expressed "more" enthusiasm.
As Latin Post reported, Obama said he will issue an executive action on immigration between Election Day and the end of this year if comprehensive legislation reform is not passed by Congress. Obama has noted congressional legislation on immigration is still needed since "anything [he] can do can be reversed by the next president."
"To move beyond what I can do in a limited way, we are going to need legislation. And if we want that legislation to happen sooner rather than later, then there's one more thing I need you to do -- I've got to have you talk to your constituents and your communities, and you've got to get them out to vote," Obama said in an address to the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute Gala last month.
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