New Poll Reveals Faith More Important Than Race for Hispanic Evangelical Voters
A new poll surveying Hispanic evangelicals revealed Christian principles matter more than race or political party. It may shed additional light on the hemorrhaging of Hispanic support for the Democratic party. “In other words,” says My Faith Votes CEO Jason Yates, “our poll found that faith trumps race for Hispanic evangelicals.”
The national survey commissioned by My Faith Votes and the NHCLC, consisting of 1,000 evangelical Christians and 500 Hispanic evangelical registered voters, revealed that the majority of total evangelical voters (61%) and Hispanic evangelical voters (53%) say their faith influences their political beliefs and their votes. The survey found that church attendance provides a reliable indicator in predicting voting trends.
This commitment to biblical values is evidenced by nearly identical positions on abortion restrictions when comparing Hispanic evangelicals and non-Hispanic evangelicals (66% and 67%, respectively). The difference is that more Hispanic Evangelicals (43%), compared to other Evangelicals (33%), indicated in the survey that they had voted for Democrats in the past.
“Instead of trying to make them in their own image, our politicians—whether they are Democrat or Republican—should start paying attention to what our communities actually believe about faith and family,” said Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, NHCLC President. “The message is clear from this data: the Latino exodus from the Democrat Party is real even if the Latino relationship with Republicans is sometimes complex.”
Among other shared concerns, a strong majority of both groups surveyed believe that religious freedom is under attack in America. Both groups support school choice and oppose the use of gender identity instead of biological sex in academic settings (nearly 70%).
“When it comes to issues of faith, Christian voters stand firm,” said Jason Yates, CEO of My Faith Votes. “They are guided by their commitment to biblical values, first and foremost, in their lives and at the polls.”
The similarities aren’t just relevant when it comes to domestic policy. A significant majority of Hispanic evangelicals (70%) and their non-Hispanic co-religionists (77%) also agree that Israel is a special country that the U.S. should support and protect. Similarly, both groups of evangelicals disapprove of Biden’s management of relations with Iran (71% and 64%, respectively).
Although both groups surveyed agree on a variety of issues, they differ in a few key areas, including government involvement. Sixty-three percent of evangelical voters expressed interest in more limited government involvement for the sake of freedom, while 49% of Hispanic evangelicals believe more government involvement is needed.
The “Evangelical Voter Attitudes” poll was conducted by an online, nationally representative survey of 1,000 self-identified evangelical and born-again Christians who are registered voters, with an oversample of 500 Hispanic evangelical registered voters— a group that has significantly impacted the outcomes of recent elections. The results presented by My Faith Votes and the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference illuminate data that could profoundly impact upcoming elections. {eoa}
Jason Yates is CEO of My Faith Votes, a nonpartisan movement that motivates, equips and activates Christians in America to vote in every election, transforming our communities and influencing our nation with biblical truth. By partnering with national faith leaders, My Faith Votes provides resources to help Christians Pray, Think and Act to create an America where God is honored in the public square. Gov. Mike Huckabee serves as the organization’s honorary national chairman.