Cost of living, housing, gun violence among top issues in third annual Colorado Latino Policy Agenda survey

by OnSight | Sep 2023 | Polling

Support for protecting abortion rights remains strong in Colorado’s largest-ever nonpartisan survey of Latino voters

DENVER — Economic struggles continue to dominate the list of concerns for Latino voters in Colorado, who rank addressing inflation and the rising cost of living as their top policy priorities in the third annual Colorado Latino Policy Agenda released today. Low wages, healthcare costs, and the affordable housing crisis also rank among the top concerns as rising prices continue to outpace wages throughout Colorado’s Latino community.

The Colorado Latino Policy Agenda (CLPA) is an annual, nonpartisan report that provides insight for elected officials, community leaders, media, and others interested in the demographic makeup and views of Latinos in Colorado on pressing policy, political, and other relevant issues in the state.

Among the key findings this year:

• A third (33%) of Latinos said their financial situation has grown more dire in 2023, while another third (34%) say their situation has not changed since 2022 when half of Colorado’s Latino community reported that their financial situation had gotten worse.

• More than a third (34%) of Latinos in Colorado say they “cannot afford” or “can barely afford” where they live, prompting “homelessness” to emerge as the third-ranked priority for state officials to address.

• Latino support for protecting abortion rights in Colorado remains strong, cited as a top-five priority (18%) for federal officials to address and serving as motivation to vote for more than half (52%) of Latinos polled.

• Addressing gun violence and mass shootings also remains a top-five priority for Latinos in Colorado, with an alarming 81% of respondents saying they are concerned about the prospect of a mass shooting that targets the Latino/immigrant community.

• As for measures on the ballot this fall, strong majorities support Proposition HH to reduce property taxes (78%) and Proposition II to fund preschool programs (75%).

DOWNLOAD THE FULL 2023 COLORADO LATINO POLICY AGENDA

Launched in 2021, the Colorado Latino Agenda (CLA) is a statewide public research initiative co-led by Voces Unidas and the Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Rights (COLOR). Now in its third year, the 2023 CLPA report is informed by a statewide poll of 1,600 Latino registered voters, providing a representative, nonpartisan snapshot of views of the second-largest and second-fastest-growing ethnic voting bloc in the state.

“After three years of research it is clear that the challenges facing Latinos when it comes to jobs, housing, and the economy are severe and in need of significant action from officials at the local, state, and federal levels,” said Alex Sánchez, President and CEO of Voces Unidas. “With fresh data revealing new priorities for Latinos, this year’s report also allows us to expand on our research base from 2021 and 2022 as we work with elected officials and community leaders to recommend and explore solutions for the future. We hope they will take it to heart and consider the diverse needs, priorities, and growing voice of the Latino community statewide.”

Polling for the 2023 CLPA was conducted online and over the phone, in both English and Spanish. BSP Research, a national firm with 20-plus years of helping community-based organizations research a diversifying United States, fielded the poll from July 1 – July 27. The margin of error was ±2.4%. The poll was designed to oversample in rural areas to provide the opportunity to compare results across four main geographical regions of the state and congressional districts, when possible.

“As the largest poll of Latino registered voters in the state, the Colorado Latino Policy Agenda provides a robust annual data set offering valuable perspectives on both national and local issues intended to inform policymakers at all levels of government about the needs and priorities of the state’s substantial Latino population in the year ahead,” said Dr. Gabriel Sanchez, who led the poll for BSP Research. “Measured alongside our work from previous years, the 2023 survey provides an opportunity to reinforce the economic vulnerability of many Latino residents of Colorado. Unfortunately, even as the economy is beginning to show signs of improvement, a sizable portion of the Latino community still faces tremendous economic challenges.”

Latinos in Colorado continue to struggle financially and rank economic concerns among four of the top six most important issues for state and federal elected officials to prioritize in 2023. Addressing inflation topped the list of both state (40%) and federal (38%) priorities, followed by improving wages and income (32% federal, 30% state) as the cost of living continues to outpace income levels of the community, particularly when it comes to healthcare (No. 4) and housing (No. 6) as Colorado’s population growth continues to surpass national averages.

“Addressing affordable and sustainable housing” polled slightly higher as a priority for state policymakers than federal, with 19% of Latino voters identifying it as a top priority, reinforced by overwhelming bipartisan support (70+%) for every policy intervention included in the survey aimed at reducing housing costs and making housing more accessible. A robust 85% of Latino registered voters agree that “cities and towns should be required to build more affordable housing near jobs, schools, and public services,” while 78% of respondents agree with the statement that “politicians talk about creating more affordable housing, but I have not seen any real change in access to affordable housing where I live.”

Addressing gun violence (22%) is also a recurring priority for Latino voters in 2023, ranking as the third-most important issue for elected officials to address at the federal level (up from No. 4 in 2022). While the percentage was slightly lower at the state level (20%) this year, gun violence remained among the top five most important issues facing the Latino community at both the federal and state levels, even as homelessness (25%) emerged as the third-most important issue for state officials to address.

Latino voters in Colorado continue to rank protection of immigrant rights as a top policy priority for federal officials, as Latino registered voters consider it one of the 10 most important issues for Congress and the President to address for a second consecutive year.

Poll respondents overwhelmingly support humane and common-sense-minded immigration policy reforms, including 80% support for the federal government doing more to support undocumented immigrants “who have lived, worked and paid their taxes in the U.S. most of their lives.” If Congress refuses to take action, 70% of respondents agreed that President Biden should pass an executive order providing legal permits that allow undocumented immigrants to live and work in the U.S. without fear of deportation.

While a majority (53%) of Latino voters believe Colorado is currently headed in the right direction, even more (57%) believe the nation is on the wrong track, likely due to the prevailing polarized political climate underscored by unprecedented political violence and misinformation surrounding the fairness of our election systems. The atmosphere is generating concern and fear among Latino voters as we approach the 2024 election, including 81% of Latino registered voters expressing concern about the prospect of a mass shooting that targets the Latino/immigrant community. Similarly high percentages are concerned about political unrest and violence, including violent protests spurred by politicians, candidates, and supporters who refuse to accept election results when they lose.

More than half (52%) of Latinos polled say the laws that have been passed around the nation to limit or ban abortion make them more likely to vote in 2023. Additionally, a solid majority (62%) in this year’s poll report that they would support a hypothetical future ballot initiative making abortion rights stronger in Colorado by allowing state-funded insurance programs to cover abortion costs.

“The 2023 CLPA reinforces what we already know – that our community values the freedom to make their own decisions and is even more motivated to protect and expand abortion access in Colorado through the ballot box as access diminishes in other states,” said Dusti Gurule, President and CEO of COLOR. “Considering the economic inequities for Latinos in Colorado, there is a strong case for expanding state-funded insurance programs to cover abortion care. Being able to lead safe, healthy, and self-determined lives is imperative for our community across Colorado.”

Beyond reproductive health, this year’s survey provides a better understanding of how Latinos in Colorado use healthcare and the challenges that they face accessing the broader healthcare they need. Nearly half (46%) of those polled say they have avoided medical care or been forced to cut corners due to the cost, further emphasizing the need for cost reduction as a top priority for 20% of Latino voters. What’s more, just over 1-in-4 (26%) say they have faced discrimination or unfair treatment when seeking healthcare, causing an additional 10% of Latinos polled to avoid necessary healthcare because of a prior experience with discrimination at a hospital, clinic or other medical facility.

With numerous district school board elections on the horizon in 2023, education policy is also on the minds of Latino voters, as some 77% of voters expressed concern about the quality of education in the state and 73% reported concerns that there is “little effort by school leaders to involve parents in their children’s education.” A lack of diversity in school staff and school boards that do not reflect the diversity of the students is also a major concern for Latino parents, as it further distances them from the decision-making process in spite of their desire to be more involved in their children’s education.

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About Voces Unidas: Voces Unidas de las Montañas is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Glenwood Springs, Colorado. We focus on organizing and advocacy, policy and research, leadership, and voter engagement programs. Learn more at vocesunidas.org.

About COLOR: Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Rights (COLOR) is a community-rooted 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that works to enable Latinx individuals and their families to lead safe, healthy, and self-determined lives. Learn more at colorlatina.org.

CPI survey shows broad public support for resource officers in Denver Public Schools

by OnSight | Sep 2023 | Polling

Voters say top issues for Denver schools are student safety and recruiting and retaining good teachers; nearly 90% undecided on At-Large school board race

DENVER — The Colorado Polling Institute (CPI) released the second part of its inaugural Denver public opinion survey, publishing polling data on voter attitudes about issues in Denver Public Schools (DPS).

Nearly two-thirds (63%) of voters support the policy of sending School Resource Officers (SROs) back into schools, with majority support across all political parties.

Other notable findings in the public opinion survey:

• The DPS School Board is deeply unpopular, with 22% of Denver voters having a favorable opinion to 55% of voters with an unfavorable opinion of the current school board. Among parents of school-aged children, the board’s unfavorable opinion rises to 66%;
• DPS parents are considerably more upbeat about education quality than non-parents: 50% of DPS parents give ratings of ‘excellent’ or ‘good’ while 48% say ‘fair’ or ‘poor.’ In contrast, non-parents give ratings of 21% excellent/good and 46% saying fair/poor (33% of non-parents are undecided);
• a slim majority (51%) think children are safe while attending Denver Public Schools while 38% think they are not safe. Among parents, however, 51% say schools are not safe, and;
• the At-Large school board race is wide open with John Youngquist at 4.8%, Ulcca Hansen at 4.5%, Kwame Spearman at 2.3% and Paul Ballenger at 1.2%. With a margin of error of +/-4.72% that means no candidate statistically has any support. (Note: The poll was conducted before Ulcca Joshi Hansen dropped out of the race.)

The poll was conducted by the bipartisan polling team of GOP pollster Cygnal and Democratic pollster Aspect Strategic from August 17-18 utilizing a 2024 likely voter model with a margin of error of +/-4.72%. The question about the At-Large school board race was done using a 2023 likely voter model to accurately represent the state of that race, allowing responses from only those likely to participate in the 2023 election.

When it comes to the upcoming school board campaign, voters say the two issues they most want candidates to address are student safety (49%) and recruiting and retaining good teachers (49%). Addressing student mental health was among the top two issues for 34% of voters, while academic achievement was a top two issue for 32%.

“Voters want to hear candidates talk about how they will keep kids safe in school, but also how they will ensure we have great teachers in the classroom,” said Democratic pollster Kevin Ingham of Aspect Strategic. “The school board race this fall is wide open — meaning  candidates will have to work hard to distinguish themselves and address those issues.”

The upcoming school board election is wide open, as 87% of voters are undecided on the At-Large race, with all declared candidates polling at or below the survey’s margin of error.

“Voters of all stripes support putting sworn law enforcement officers back into schools, but this election is not just about student safety,” said Republican pollster Brent Buchanan. “Voters want to hear from candidates about how they’ll support teachers, student mental health, and academic achievement as well – because they aren’t happy with how things are going with the schools”

CPI is a newly launched nonprofit whose mission is to elevate the public dialogue and promote informed decision-making through timely, trustworthy, and nonpartisan public opinion research on the most important issues facing Coloradans.

Note: Download toplines and crosstabs are attached. Additional analysis can be found online at: copollinginstitute.org

First-ever Colorado Polling Institute survey shows Denver voters’ view of city at crossroads

by OnSight | Aug 2023 | Polling

Voters identify homelessness, housing affordability as top issues for city to address; more than 6-in-10 feel ‘safe’ and support ‘sweeps’ or ‘cleanups’ of homeless encampments

DENVER — Voters are divided on whether the Mile High City is on the right track or headed in the wrong direction and identify homelessness and housing affordability as the top two issues for the city government to address, according to a Colorado Polling Institute survey of likely 2024 voters released today.

Among the notable findings:

• More than two-thirds (68%) of respondents say they feel safe in Denver;
• there is strong support (65%) for city “cleanups” or “sweeps” of homeless encampments that pose a health and safety risk;
  newly elected Mayor Mike Johnston’s homeless plans are well-received (34% approve vs. 20% disapprove), but a plurality (41%) haven’t formed opinions;
• the cost of housing places “some” or “significant” financial strain on two-thirds (65%) of respondents, including nearly 9-in-10 (88%) of renters and;
• voters are generally pessimistic (45%) rather than optimistic (30%) about the progress being made on downtown Denver’s recovery;

“It is noteworthy that voters’ top concerns revolve around the city’s housing challenges. The mayor made homelessness a central issue in his campaign, and voters clearly support that priority,” said Democratic pollster Kevin Ingham of Aspect Strategic. “Yet, many are feeling burdened by their own housing costs and these results indicate they want the city to approach the housing issue with a wide angle lens.”

The poll of 414 likely 2024 Denver general election voters was conducted for the Colorado Polling Institute Aug. 17-18 by the bipartisan polling team of Cygnal and Aspect Strategic via a multi-mode mix of live calls and text-to-web responses. It has a margin of error of ± 4.72%.

The poll found voters divided on the direction of the city, with 44% saying it’s headed in the right direction and 44% saying it’s on the wrong track.

Addressing homelessness is a clear priority for most voters. In fact, it is the top priority across most groups, with the exception of those aged 18-29, who prioritize housing affordability and the cost of living.

“As we saw in polling during the mayoral election earlier this year, Denverites are strongly in favor of forcefully addressing the homelessness issue,“ stated Republican pollster Brent Buchanan of Cygnal. “The fact that homelessness is still the top issue by far could be the reason voters are pessimistic about the progress being made on downtown Denver’s recovery.”

In addition to homelessness (51%) and housing affordability (41%), voters identify crime and public safety (34%) and the cost of living (32%) as other top issues for the city to address.

Johnston, who took office in July on a promise to end homelessness in his first term, has a positive image among likely 2024 general election voters (46% favorable vs. 22% unfavorable for a +24 favorable rating), though nearly a third say they have no opinion (28%). or had never heard of him (3.5%).

Despite concerns over housing affordability and the financial burden of housing in Denver, half of voters think the city’s policies should prioritize listening to the concerns of residents even if that means new housing sometimes doesn’t get built as opposed to building new housing in all neighborhoods over objections from current residents (37%). Put another way, there is not overall opposition to what are typically framed as “Not in my backyard,” or NIMBY, arguments.

And even those who are most housing-burdened don’t necessarily make the link between housing costs and supply. Among those who say housing costs are a “significant” source of financial strain, 52% prioritize listening to concerns vs. 36% who say building more housing. Similarly, those who say “housing affordability” is a top issue for the city are evenly divided on this question (42% listen to concerns; 43% build more housing).

A slight majority have a favorable view of the Denver Police Department (51% favorable vs. 43% unfavorable). And, while two-thirds (68%) say they feel safe in Denver, the feeling is soft, as a majority (50%) say “somewhat safe” compared to “very safe” (18%).

The poll also looked at two election-related issues that have been in the news and could come before Denver City Council in the weeks ahead.

Nearly two-thirds of voters (63%) support limiting elected officeholders — including mayor, auditor, clerk and recorder, and city council — to no more than two consecutive four-year terms, including 41% who strongly support the idea. Officials can currently serve up to three consecutive terms.

And, by a 2-to-1 margin (48% to 24%), voters said they would support instituting ranked-choice voting for municipal elections.

CPI is a newly launched nonprofit whose mission is to elevate the public dialogue and promote informed decision-making through timely, trustworthy, and nonpartisan public opinion research on the most important issues facing Coloradans.

“Our mission is to provide relevant, actionable, nonpartisan public opinion research on issues in Denver and across the state we love,” said founder David Carlson. “We’ll be relentlessly transparent with our findings and dedicated to high-quality research. We’re proud of the talented team of pollsters and advisors from across the political spectrum we’ve brought together to achieve that goal.”

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Note: Download toplines and crosstabs. Additional analysis can be found online at: copollinginstitute.org