tags: , , , , , America’s Voice Research on Immigration Reform, Press Releases

Latino-Heavy Districts Break Big for Beto But Cruz Keeps Senate Seat

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American Election Eve Poll shows Latino preferred O’Rourke over Cruz 74%-24%

AUSTIN, TX – Higher voter turnout was reported all across Texas during this year’s midterm election, leading to an increase in Latino and suburban voters that broke heavily for Democratic candidate Beto O’Rourke in his race to unseat Sen. Ted Cruz. Despite the high numbers, O’Rourke was unable to defeat Cruz, but as findings from the American Election Eve Poll show, the Democrat built the foundation to turnout voters of color in Texas who showed up and overwhelmingly supported him across the state.

Data from the election eve poll was corroborated by on the ground data from county and precinct election returns showing over a 100% increase in the Latino vote in Dallas, Houston, El Paso as well as throughout the Rio Grande Valley. Precinct analysis of the vote returns by the UCLA Latino Policy & Politics Initiative suggest around 75-80% of Latinos voted for O’Rourke.

Latinos overwhelmingly continue to favor Democrats as our finding show, and immigration reform remained the number one issue for Latinos in the Lone Star State.

The American Election Eve Poll examined how African American, Asian American & Pacific Islander, and Latino voters in Texas engaged in the 2018 midterm elections.

The preliminary Texas results from the American Election Eve Poll show

ISSUES

Top issues for African American voters in Texas

  • Health Care Cost – 36%
  • Improve Economy – 21%
  • Income Inequality – 17%
  • Immigration Reform – 14%

Top issues for AAPI voters in Texas

  • Health Care Cost – 38%
  • Improve Economy – 25%
  • Immigration Reform – 18%
  • Income Inequality – 10%

Top issues for Latino voters in Texas

  • Immigration Reform – 34%
  • Improve Economy – 31%
  • Health Care Cost – 31%
  • Income Inequality – 17%

TEXAS SENATE RACE

African American Voters

  • Ted Cruz  – 10%
  • Beto O’Rourke – 86%

AAPI Voters

  • Ted Cruz  – 29%
  • Beto O’Rourke – 66%

Latino Voters

  • Ted Cruz  – 24%
  • Beto O’Rourke – 74%

TEXAS VOTERS

  • 85% of African American voters in Texas think Donald Trump’s racist statements and policies will cause a major setback to the progress made in recent years by African Americans.
  • 66% of AAPI voters in Texas think Donald Trump’s racist statements and policies will cause a major setback to the progress made in recent years by AAPIs.
  • 77% of Latino voters in Tes Donald Trump’s racist statements and policies will cause a major setback to the progress made in recent years by AAPIs.

Frank Sharry, Executive Director of America’s Voice issued the following statement: “This should be a wake-up call for Democrats that Texas is winnable. Beto O’Rourke has paved the wave for future progressive candidates to loudly support policies that are pro-immigrant. Unprecedented support from Latinos shows that there are gains to be made if the investments are there.”

Mario Carrillo, Texas State Director of America’s Voice issued the following statement, “Texas is well on its way to becoming a swing state, and Latino voters remain the key. Beto O’Rourke’s campaign went a long way in engaging and inspiring Texans in every corner of the state, and we must build on the foundation he has set.”

“Latinos in Texas have made their presence felt throughout the state with historic turnout for a midterm along the border, gains in Latino-heavy districts, as well as sending two Latinas to the House of Representatives. We must continue investing in Texas, especially along the border, to ensure that Latinos continue to grow their power in a state in which they’ll soon be the majority.”