EXCLUSIVE — A new poll shows Republicans gaining ground with Hispanic voters in two swing states.
The poll, conducted by the American Principles Project and released first to the Washington Examiner, surveyed 500 likely general election Latino voters in Arizona and Nevada and found former President Donald Trump running close to President Joe Biden in both states.
In a head-to-head matchup, the poll found Trump and Biden even in Arizona, with Biden leading in Nevada by 2 points.
“Joe Biden and Democrats should be very worried,” APP Director of Hispanic Engagement Alfonso Aguilar said. “Although for years they have taken the Hispanic vote for granted, their far-left extremism is finally driving many Hispanics to reconsider Republican candidates like Donald Trump who are closer to their values.”
The full poll results are available here.
Values were also a part of the survey, which asked respondents to answer several cultural war questions.
The poll found that 60% of respondents support laws preventing men from competing in women’s sports, 57% support banning gender reassignment surgeries for children under 18, and 64% support requiring schools to notify parents if their child begins identifying as transgender.
On abortion, 67% support a 12-week ban with exceptions for rape, incest, danger to the life of the mother, and severe birth defects.
Fifty-seven percent of the APP poll’s respondents oppose using the label “Latinx” to describe their community, 79% agree with the statement that many in America are “too focused on race,” and 67% agree that schools should stick to subjects like reading and math while leaving “sex and racial issues” to parents.
The economy was the No. 1 issue for poll respondents, who Aguilar said remember a better employment picture under Trump.
“Hispanic unemployment under Trump went down to a record low, but household income went up to record highs,” he said. “Hispanics were very pleased in terms of their lifestyle, in terms of millions literally leaving the welfare rolls and joining the middle class. That is the American dream.”
Immigration was cited as the No. 2 issue, with high numbers of respondents saying they support border security measures such as deportation, detention, and the Remain in Mexico policy.
“It’ll be very difficult for Biden to win Nevada and Arizona with that margin,” Aguilar said. “Democrats really need wide support from Hispanics, which is not happening, and then support for Trump is going up. That’s really a major realignment.”
Biden, perhaps sensing the shift, launched the “Latinos con Biden-Harris” initiative this week at a Mexican restaurant in Phoenix.
“You’re the reason why, in large part, I beat Donald Trump,” Biden said when it was his turn to speak. “I need you badly.”
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The Biden campaign says Latinos con Biden-Harris will include a series of events to reach Latino supporters about the president and “the choice Latinos will face in this election.” Events are being held in Nevada, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Wisconsin, in addition to Arizona.
Unlike some previous Biden events, the term “Latinx” was not used at the Phoenix launch.