While 51 percent of Hispanics identify as independents, a new
USA Today/Gallup poll of 1,753 Hispanics found they are still firmly in the Democratic camp. The poll found that 32 percent of Hispanics identified as Democrats and 11 percent as Republicans.
However, the poll, conducted April 16-May 31, found that when partisan leadings are taken into account, Hispanics side with the Democratic Party over the GOP 52 percent to 23 percent.
The numbers are stronger for Democrats among Hispanics who are registered voters, 45 percent who identify as Democratic, 36 percent as independent and 16 percent as Republican. When party leanings are taken into effect, 60 percent of Hispanic registered voters are in the Democratic column, 27 percent Republican, and 10 percent independent.
“Hispanic immigrants are much more likely than those born in the United States to lack a political party attachment, contributing to the high proportion of political independence among the U.S. Hispanic population in general,” Gallup said in an analysis of the findings.
Gallup found that those who identify as Democrats or lean Democratic is generally consistent across generations ranging from 52 percent to 56 percent and that Hispanics with longer ties to the United States are more likely to be Republicans.
“Hispanics of all generations are much more likely to align with the Democratic than the Republican Party, and this preference persists among Hispanics with longer histories in the United States,” Gallup found. “Republicans do make gains among more established U.S. Hispanics but still trail Democrats by a wide margin among those who have been in the United States for two or more generations.”
Gallup concluded that Hispanics “who are fully integrated into the political process, namely those registered to vote, show even stronger Democratic proclivities.
“Thus, while the GOP may make some inroads among Hispanics as they develop deeper American roots in the future, Hispanics are likely to remain a reliable Democratic voting bloc for years to come.”
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