(Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
The Hispanic vote has become an increasingly prevalent topic of conversation as a higher percentage of this democgraphic shifts toward the Republican Party. Democrats previously enjoyed support from about 70% of Latinos – but that loyalty has dropped significantly in the last few years. With the Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe v. Wade, some have raised questions regarding how abortion might influence voting decisions among Latinos – especially in Florida.
Latinos and Abortion
Latinos make up about a quarter of the Sunshine State’s population, according to the most recent Census. Naturally, political candidates have eagerly courted – and both Republicans and Democrats are counting on – their votes. But attitudes about abortion among Hispanics tend to vary, and religion could play a significant part.
Alexandra Mandado, CEO and president of the Florida Planned Parenthood PAC, told Fox News Digital in an emailed statement that Latino voters “support access to safe, legal abortion and want to be able to control their own health care decisions without political interference.” However, a Pew Research poll found that 71% of Florida’s Hispanic population identified as Christians, indicating support for abortion might not be as strong as Mandado suggests.
“Hispanics tend to be very family-oriented. Many of them are Christians. They have strong moral convictions, and many of them, many are pro-life. And even the Democrat Hispanics, I believe, are becoming very increasingly uncomfortable with the Democrat Party and some of its policies, specifically on abortion,” said Lynda Bell, president of Florida Right to Life, during an interview with Fox. Abraham Enriquez, president of Bienvenido, a Hispanic conservative advocacy group, also chimed in, noting that Catholic churches were energized over this issue. He explained that “President Trump won 59% of Florida’s Catholic vote” in 2020.
How Important Is Abortion to Latinos?
(Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)
Abortion has become a more important issue for Hispanic Americans this year, but while many Latinos are identify as pro-life, it may not be the case that they wish this view to be reflected in the law. A survey from Hispanic civil rights and advocacy group UnidosUS and civic engagement organization Mi Familia Vota revealed that 70% of Latinos believed abortion should be legal regardless of their personal beliefs.
Still, even if most Latinos believe the procedure should be legal, it does not appear they are as extreme on the issue as many pro-abortion activists and politicians. For example, in Miami-Dade county, where Hispanics make up about 71% of the population, the school board voted last month to prohibit two controversial sex education textbooks that went into detail about abortion procedures and contraception.
Even so, it does not appear that abortion is as big a sticking point as the other issues that all Americans are facing. Crime, gun violence, inflation, and jobs were all major issues according to the survey conducted by the two advocacy groups. In the end, it will likely be these topics that have the most influence on the voting decisions of Latinos in November.
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