With cspan campaign 20 20 brought to you as a Public Service by your television provider. We are talking about the latino vote in campaign 2020 with mark lopez, the global pa migration and Democracy Research director at pew research center, thank you for being here. How many latino voters will be eligible to vote in 2020 and compare that with the last president ial cycle. This year we project is going to be 32 million latinos will be at least 18 years of age by the november election. Thats up from 27 and ahalf million in 2016. Its over 4 million since 2016 and thats been the pattern over the last few election cycles. An additional 4 million latinos become eligible to vote mostly by aging and so that speaks to the youth of the electorate but many who are naturalized or immigrants areadults who have a green card and decide to become a us citizen. How are they able to vote if they were not born here . They would need to naturalized to become a us citizen but the two become a us citizen its a long process and the thing about the latino population is you have many people who hold whats called a green card so they are in the us legally and have legal residence or are legal permanent membersof the Us Population. However whats interesting about this is that many particularly from mexico have been in the status for years and havent applied to become a us citizen because it can cost over 700 for example to become a citizen and the price is about to go up thats one of the key ways we see about 1 million latinos between election cycles become eligible to vote through the process of le naturalization. What are some of the most important issues forlatino voters . Traditionally has been education, healthcare and jobs and we continue to see that again. Theres strong support among latinos for raising the minimum wage to 15 per hour and we find many latinos want some sort of Healthcare System provided by the ul federal government and we see for example when it comes to issues like how big the government should be , latinos overwhelmingly support a bigger government providing services. In the case of immigration, pathway to citizenship, support for dreamers, over those programsare goals latinos want to see as part of immigration policy. How mobilized and motivated are latino voters to get out and vote. Its an interesting question because traditionally latinos have voted in rates much lower than you see for what whites or blacks. 47 and a half percent of latino eligible voters turned out to vote, a record turnout there were more latinos eligible to vote in 2012 by comparison whites got two thirds of white eligible voters turned out to vote so its about a 15 to 20 percentage point gap depending on the election. This year remains to be seen what will happen but we have found many latinos on the democratic side are both happy with the candidates who are running, many think its important who wins in november but we have found that interestingly in december when you ask latino democrats do you know when your caucus is going to be, three quarters said they didnt know. Admittedly that was in december before things are getting going and things may be different if we did the survey today and its true of the publicas well but latinos lagged in terms of motivation. 2018 was unique, there was a surge of Voter Participation among latinos but also all ns americans and latino Voter Participation reached president ial levels in 2018 8. We want to hear from latino voters this morning, 202748 8001 i believe is your number. Then we divided the numbers, latino voters, all others. Thats how we will start the conversation so start dialing in. We want to hear what issues, 800 four latino voters, or what issues you are concerned about, how motivated you are to vote and hear from all others aswell, your line 2027488001. Do we know the percentage of democratic latino voters versus Republican Voters . The latino vote as leaned toward the democraticparty in terms of affiliation for quite some time. 65 percent of latino registered voters would say they are either democrats or lean towards Democratic Party if they identify as an independent. 30 percent will say they do the same with regards to Republican Party but those shares have been able in recent years so the hispanic vote and still lean towards democrats and you can see in the president ial elections in 2016, 2012 democratic president ial candidate obama and clinton won substantial shares of the latino vote, upwards of 75 to 80 percent area. What issues the republicans talk about that appeal to latino voters versus what the issues that democrats talk about that appeal to latino voters . You have conversation about issues like abortion and in the latino adult population, about 25 percent will say they are evangelical christian or bornagain christian and thats an important part of the latino electric generally speaking and when democrats talk to latinos there oftentimes talking about issues like education or immigration, immigration with regards to a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants and you see democrats talking about jobs and the economy , minimum wage so it depends on the candidate and the location of the conversation but generally speaking thats what we are seeing having. In nevada on the caucuses there, you saw Bernie Sanders when and with latino voters, what were the takeaways for you from the nevada caucuses . It was interesting to see how strong support was for Bernie Sanders among democrats in nevada and that speaks to the presence of latinos in nevada, 19 percent of the eligible voters in the state of nevada whats also interesting is some analysis post nevada suggests turnout while about on par with the last president ial election in 2016 or somewhat higher im sorry ben 2016, it remains below 2008 levels this is like the back state has seen in a population with a hispanic population its a little bit of a mix of interesting to see the support for different candidates but also not sure about where turnout was latinos. Why does worry sanders appeal to latino voters . Partly because of you, hes appeal to young people generally and among latinos a significant part, more so than white or black or under the age of 35, millennials or younger that the key parts receive a growing number of young latinos for example attend college. So around College Affordability are another issue they are facing a growing number of young latinos but also in the issue of immigration, thats another issue that Sanders Campaign has talked about some and in addition to also the issue of healthcare and thats a big part in a big concern for latinos for a number of years becausethey are more likely to have Health Insurance and other americans. In your research that youve done around seven in 10 latino voters say the government is responsible for ensuring all americans have Health Care Coverage so universal healthcare, medicare for all, that message would appeal to them. It resonates with them again because so many dont have Health Insurance, about 15, 17 percent in the most recent statistics do not have Health Insurance, any sort of Health Insurance coverage. Fred first was in maryland, good morning. I think youre mentioning a point on this, i think most legal hispanic americans what rules and laws and they come here to get away from these socialist countries that have dictatorships with no loss and no justice i think for the most parttheyre going to support President Trump. Because at least hes trying to do something and i live in maryland and theres a lot of undocumented immigrants thats cross over illegally. They already broken our federal laws and in the state of maryland they are forcing us residents to supply a birth certificate, Social Security and three other pieces of information to show our or prove where we live. Ive been in the system of Maryland Department of Motor Vehicles for 36 years and i still had to prove who i was and where i live now the democrats in maryland passed a law where they give illegals a waiver so they can get a drivers license and all you need to vote in the state of maryland is a drivers license thats what it all comes down to with these open borders and now i think its going to come to a head this election time. How do you feel about wanting to cross over illegally and bypass all theother ones waiting in line . At the great question and you point to something thats important about the latino vote is that the vote is a diverse electorate area is one that has people from many different parts of latin america and particularly when we take a look at the state of florida you will see that our many latinos there who are either of human origin, venezuelan, colombian, nicaraguan issues around immigration are important questions for them but in a different way and you might see in other parts of the us there are some of the conversation is about Legal Immigration in the case of humans, about policy for yuma and people from cuba imwith regard to the latino the latino is not monolithic, quite diverse viewpoints and one of the ways it diverse is when you take a look at who voted in 2016, President Trump one about 25 to 20 percent of the latino vote on the old one but that was also support was stronger in the state like florida where he won by a slim margin, the latino vote according to the exit polls there is also i ethink an indication of how diverse electorate is not all latinos feel the same about policy issues acrossthe country. Are the implications of Center Sanders comments about fidel castro in the state of florida area. I think it remains to be seen but itsinteresting we have seen at least going to validate , 2012 coming into 2016 we seen the latino vote in florida was starting to turn for Democratic Candidates but instead what we see is in 2016 that trump one at least about more than half of the latino vote in florida which was a reversal of many years we had seen going on with regards to support or republican candidates. I want to remind our viewers, heres what senator sanders said about the room. Back in the 1980s, sanders had positive things to say about the former soviet union and sandinistas in nicaragua. Everybody was convinced. Especially one cuban people didnt rise upand help us for throat fidel castro. Gave in healthcare, totally transform the society. We are opposed to the authoritarian nature of cuba but its been fair to say everything is sad. When fidel castro cames office, he had a massive literacyprogram. Is that a badthing even though fidel castro . A lot of dissidents in prison. And we condemned that. This has been a challenge for some politicians over the years, the way in which they talk about the relationship with cuba and the cuban boat has traditionally been much more republican and youve seen among other groups of hispanics in the country but its interesting , the reaction in florida has not been among human americans but also among nicaraguans, venezuelans and colombians so there has been a reaction to the comments from senator sanders. Whats the reaction in those other countries . That senator sanders may have made comments that are insensitive to the experiences of people from those countries, particularly ar the people who had to leave lo those countries quickly or for various reasons and moved to florida. What percentage of latino population that can vote is made up of those american countries . Central american countries make up a small share so when you look at the entire electorate, 32 million, most, about 55 percent are of mexican origin, 12 percent or so our puerto rican but then you get to the percentage for cubans, it might be 3 and a half to four percent, also are salvadorans 2 and a half percent but that salvadorans share is below their share of the general population is 3 and a half percent. Where talking withlatino voters about the impact of the latino vote. Woodbridge virginia, latino voter, welcome to you. Caller good morning and thank you for bringing this up. Ive been here in the us for 30 years and it cost me a lot to get my green card and citizenship so people, especially republicans who think, who listen to Rush Limbaugh or fox news, they think you are just crossing, getting drivers licenses to go. Its nonsense, its not true. Im talking from my experience, its a lot to become a us citizen then devote, so im unfortunately, of course latinos are going to lean towards democrats but unfortunately this past 10 years, the democrats have promised so many things to latinos and like people whove been living in this country for over 25 years, making them residents to have their legal papers Nothing Happened unfortunately. Republicans on the other hand are fighting against foreigners, they dont want, especially this administration dont want to come, the dreamers who been living most of their lives here who contribute in this country, who are working very hard, they dont want them to make them citizens and unfortunately anytime that the economy is bad for the victims. Ask the latinos, every time the country is doing fine, its still against us. I dont know, we as foreign people come to this country and we work our lives, ive been working here hard by the rules and i just dont like people, i dont know. They have to start digging information. Through google, through the internet or finding the facts. They think that latinos, they work illegally. Theyre abusing the system, of course. In any other society, there are a few rotten people. I understand that but most of them are hardworking. They pay taxes no matter what job they do, they are paying taxes and some of them arenot even collected so really this is a call for everybody , im not against republicans or democrats for anybody but just open your eyes. Really understand the situation that we latinos, we like this country, where working for this country and i think we deserve more than just live a better life. Requested and i think one thing to note is the us public view of immigrants has changed over time since the 1990s. We see a reversal in the share of americans who say that immigrants in the United States because of their hard work and talent. Today about 62 percent, 63 percent of adults will say that, back in the 1990s only 35 percent of us adults this is a reversal in opinions about immigrants that we see the general us public sees the growing diversity of the country as something thats a strength for the country which is in contrast to what you see in unother countries around the world such as in europe or asia where he was about diversity are not the same as here in the us i think its important also note when you talk about immigrants to the us, not all immigrants are latinos latinos make up a significant share of the Us Population and a significant part of the us hispanic immigrant population, 20 Million People are in the country legally, not everybody is an unauthorized or undocumented immigrants. Most are in the us legally and significant share us citizenship. In martinsville new york area. One guys. Ive got a couple of points i want to make. Number one, everyones been discussing about what bernie bhas been talking about as far as fidel castro. And i need to make a point about this. Im not a very supporter but this is kind of stuck in my craw. The leadership before castro was, cuba was led by a man by the name of bautista i believe area and as far as i can remember, because im kind of old, he was a United States puppet. He was in place in cuba to be, to do the work for the United States government and the cuban people rose up and decided to oust him i believe. And install fidel castro. As far as im concerned, thats their business really if thats what they wanted, thats what they got, then so be s. As far as the cuban exiles in florida, maybe they left because they supported bautista now castro when they left and oh well, okay, thats number one. Number two, i dont know how latinos can actually support a man who starts his Election Campaign by saying mexicans are rapists and drug dealers. Right from the outset, right from the getgo. I dont understand because i dont truly believe, he was just thinking about mexicans, i believe it was a blanket statement for all latinos if you, i dont understand how anyone would want to support a man who starts his campaign with that kind of statement. Got it, matthew. As you were talking about earlier the latino vote is diverse in its support for their friends and a significant share of latinos, not majority in his chair and identified with the force the Republican Party but its interesting that when you take a look at trial approval one of the things thats interesting among latinos is now the majority, 70 eplus percent disapprove of tithe way the president is his job we see is a division between democrats and republicans in the view of the president s job performance, the majority of latino performance say his performance has improved among democrats, more than 80 percent disapprove of the way the president this job but it seems that i diversity of this electorate and not all latinos are of mexican origin , nor are all latinos immigrants, let alone the children of immigrant parents so this diversity i think its to the diversity of the demographics and the politics of the group as well. Guest in which states are there concentrations of latino voters in which they are they on the rise . Host the state with the most is california, 7 million hispanics eligible to vote followed by texas and together they make up for five percent of the entire hispanic eligible voter population. Thats important because today is coming up in both primaries on super tuesday there were some states like for example in nevada, 19, almost 80 percent of eligible voters are hispanic in florida about a quarter and among registered voters