Republicans have closed in on Democrats’ commanding lead among Latino voters, with the Left’s polling numbers being cut by more than half over the last decade.
About 54% of Latino voters say they would like a Democratic-led Congress in November, while 33% say they’d rather see Republicans take control, according to an NBC News/Telemundo poll released Sunday. While the numbers still give Democrats a 21-point lead, that advantage has shrunk by 21 points over the last 10 years.
MIDTERMS 2022 LIVE: UPDATES FROM THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL AHEAD OF CRUCIAL ELECTION
That same poll showed Democrats had a 42-point lead over Republicans during the 2012 general election, a 34-point lead in the 2018 midterm elections, and a 26-point advantage in 2020, according to NBC. The numbers come as both parties have sought to make inroads with the voting bloc as the demographic could be crucial to winning control of Congress in November.
“While Latinos continue to lean toward the Democratic Party and prefer Democratic control of Congress, Republicans have a higher share of the vote than we’ve measured previously,” said Democratic pollster Aileen Cardona-Arroyo of Hart Research Associates. “Being down by 20 points is a lot better [for Republicans] than being down by 40 points.”
Democrats still hold advantages with Latino voters on key issues such as abortion and healthcare. However, the poll found that the demographic is more likely to back Republicans on crime and the economy.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
President Joe Biden’s approval ratings among Latino voters remain split, with 51% approving of his job performance and 45% disapproving, according to the poll.
The NBC/Telemundo poll surveyed 1,000 Latino voters between Sept. 17-26 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points.