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Battleground State Exit Polling: How Latino Voters Influenced the 2012 Elections

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The 2012 elections demonstrate that, as the rest of the country takes note of the growing impact of Latino and new citizen voters, they should look to swing states like Arizona, Florida, Colorado, and New Mexico to see what that change could mean. Newly-released election-eve polling from impreMedia and Latino Decisions – which surveyed Latino voters nationally and in eleven states – shows these voters’ growing influence, and their attention to the candidates’ positions on immigration and other top Latino issues.

The following state-by-state polling looks at Latino vote turnout in these key states, what percentage of them broke for which candidate, who they supported in important Senate races, what issues they believe to be important, how they feel about President Obama’s policies, and much more.  Below are links to each of the state results, as well as tables summarizing the data:

State-by-State Latino vote: Percentage Voting for Obama vs. Romney

Percentage Obama Percentage Romney
New Mexico 77 21
Nevada 80 17
Colorado 87 10
Florida 58 40
Arizona 79 20
Texas 70 29
Virginia 66 31
Ohio 82 17

 

Percentage of Latino Vote Voting for Senate Democrat vs. Senate Republican

Percentage Democrat Percentage Republican
New Mexico (Democrat Martin Heinrich vs. Republican Heather Wilson) 79 20
Nevada (Democrat Shelly Berkley vs. Republican Dean Heller) 79 20
Colorado (n/a)
Florida (Democrat Bill Nelson vs. Republican Connie Mack) 59 40
Arizona (Democrat Richard Carmona vs. Republican Jeff Flake) 83 17
Texas (Democrat Paul Sadler vs. Republican Ted Cruz) 65 35
Virginia (Democrat Tim Kaine vs. Republican George Allen) 70 29
Ohio (Democrat Sherrod Brown vs. Republican Josh Mandel) 80 20

 

Issues Cited as Top Priorities for State Latino Voters

Economy/Jobs Immigration/ DREAM Act Health Care Education
New Mexico 55 29 16 10
Nevada 54 40 8 19
Colorado 50 34 16 17
Florida 57 35 13 12
Arizona 47 48 12 15
Texas 54 40 8 19
Virginia 55 42 10 15
Ohio 54 31 13 12

 

Percentage of State Latino Voters Who Know Someone Undocumented,

Percentage of State Latino Voters Who Would Be More Likely to Vote Republican if GOP Better Supported Immigration Reform

  Percentage Know Someone Undocumented Percentage More Likely to Vote Republican
New Mexico 53 21
Nevada 67 34
Colorado 63 24
Florida 46 39
Arizona 65 38
Texas 58 36
Virginia 57 28
Ohio 40 26

 

How does Obama Truly Feel About Latino Community?

  Truly Cares Didn’t Care Too Much Hostile
New Mexico 69 18 3
Nevada 68 18 6
Colorado 80 14 2
Florida 56 32 5
Arizona 69 22 3
Texas 64 25 2
Virginia 53 31 3
Ohio 71 21 2

 

Does President Obama’s deferred action policy make you more or less enthusiastic about voting for Obama?

  More Less
New Mexico 50 8
Nevada 61 5
Colorado 62 4
Florida 45 10
Arizona 59 9
Texas 59 5
Virginia 48 11
Ohio 47 8

 

How Does Romney Truly Feel About Latino Community?

  Truly Cares Didn’t Care Too Much Hostile
New Mexico 14 44 15
Nevada 12 60 19
Colorado 9 59 27
Florida 23 49 14
Arizona 14 58 18
Texas 17 56 15
Virginia 18 54 13
Ohio 13 57 20

 

Does Mitt Romney’s self-deportation policy make you more or less enthusiastic about voting for Romney?

  More Less
New Mexico 9 52
Nevada 5 61
Colorado 5 68
Florida 12 51
Arizona 7 56
Texas 7 55
Virginia 8 55
Ohio 3 62