A tracking survey conducted by BSP Research and commissioned by the “National Association Educational Fund” of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO), by interviewing 400 registered Latino voters nationwide (September 2-11) demonstrated which are the issues that most concern them in the context of the proximity of the November legislative elections, the midterms.

The survey, conducted in its sixth year, showed that nearly half, 48%, of 400 Latinos nationally surveyed chose rising cost of living as the top issue Congress and the president need to address.

“Women’s reproductive rights and women’s right to abortion were the top concern for 28% of those surveyed in the poll, commissioned by National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials Educational Fund, or NALEO. That’s up from 4% of Latinos who named it as a top issue at the same point in the poll ahead of the 2018 midterms”, said Arturo Vargas, executive director of NALEO’s educational fund, according to NBC News.

Armed violence, such as mass shootings, and the improvement of wages and jobs was the topic that occupied the 3rd position among the most mentioned. While immigration remained among the top 10 concerns, it was the 8th most mentioned.

Addressing the Covid-19 pandemic, which has disproportionately killed and sickened Latinos and affected their jobs and income, ranked 9th. In 2020, it was consistently the number 1 issue, according to Vargas.

“In a separate question, 84% of Latinos surveyed said they strongly support or support passage of a new voting rights act […]. The polling firm will survey voters through the next nine weeks leading up to the midterms, according to NBC publication.

Other approaches with Latinos also show jumps in concern about abortion rights. A survey of 2,750 Latinos (2,540 were registered to vote and 210 were not but were eligible to vote) showed that 19% rated abortion as one of the top three issues elected officials must address. It was the fifth most mentioned, with gun violence at number 2. This was higher than the 3% surveyed in 2020.

“Like the NALEO poll, inflation and the rising cost of living was the top concern, mentioned by almost half of Latinos in the poll, also conducted by BSP Research for UnidosUS and MiFamilia Vota, two Latino advocacy groups”.

“Some Republican candidates have been walking back their support for a total ban on abortion and tempering their positions as only supportive of restrictions, as Republican pollsters have been warning it could hurt GOP candidates in competitive races, NBC News reported”.

The Wall Street Journal reported in its political bulletin that a poll conducted in mid-August showed that Latino women shifted 15 points toward Democrats, which was attributed to the abortion issue.

“BSP pollster and analyst Stephen Nuño noted the tracking poll showed a strong gap between the more progressive policies that Latinos said they supported and who they are willing to support in Congress. Along with inflation, abortion, improving wages and gun violence, lowering the cost of health care were the top five pressing issues named”, according to NBC.

“Yet the poll showed only half, 52%, of Latinos surveyed said they would vote for a Democratic candidate for Congress in their district, while 35% said they’d support the Republican one. At the same point in 2018, just 22% said they’d back a Republican”.

The GOP and its candidates are hitting President Joe Biden hard on inflation and the economy, which were salient issues for former President Donald Trump in boosting his Latino vote share in 2020.

According to NBC, “About 30% of Latinos said they are doing worse financially than they were two years ago. However, inflation has been showing signs of slowing. Gas prices in August fell below $4 for the first time in months. For those with Senate races in their state, 50% said they'd back the Democratic candidate”.

NALEO has projected that 11.61 million Latinos will vote in 2022, similar to the record 2018 midterm turnout.