Pollsters, Civil Rights & Civic Engagement Organizations Release Initial Findings from The American Election Eve Poll, As Election Day Draws to a Close

Washington, DC — In 2018, allied organizations across the progressive movement are launching the American Election Eve Poll examining how African American, Asian American and Pacific Islander, Latino, Native American and White voters engaged in the 2018 midterm elections.

The American Election Eve Poll:

• Examined how African American, Asian American & Pacific Islander, Latino, Native American, and White voters engaged in the 2018 midterm elections.

• Focused on six states with competitive elections (Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Nevada and Texas)

• Included a national survey of 70 House battleground districts with complete samples of Latino, Asian American & Pacific Islander, African-American, and White voters and a national survey of Native American voters.

Results will be released throughout the night, as polls close. Check results here.

The preliminary results from the House battleground poll:

On the question of who did you vote for in the election for U.S. House of Representatives:

• African-American voted for Democrats over Republicans by a margin of 90% to 6%

• Latinos voted for Democrats over Republicans by a margin of 73% to 23%

• Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders voted for Democrats over Republicans by a margin of 72% to 24%

In 2018, certain politicians made attacks on the poor, immigrants and minorities part of their campaigns. They tried to divide Americans and point the finger at others to distract us, rather than talking about how their policies hand giant kickbacks to the rich, de-fund our schools, separate families, and threaten our seniors with cuts to Medicare and Social Security. Rather than attacks that try to divide us, we should be working to stand up for all Americans of all backgrounds.

• 81% of all voters in battleground districts agreed this was an an important reason to vote.

How has Donald Trump made you feel?

• 62% of all battleground voters said Donald Trump has made them feel angry

• 54% of all battleground voters said Donald Trump has made them feel disrespected

• 46% of all battleground voters said Donald Trump has made them feel hopeful

• 42% of all battleground voters said Donald Trump has made them feel proud

Top issues for African Americans voters in battleground districts

• Health care cost - 40%

• Improve economy - 21%

• Income inequality - 17%

Top issues for Asian American & Pacific Islander voters in battleground districts

• Health care cost - 33%

• Improve economy - 21%

• Income inequality - 18%

Top issues for Latino voters in battleground districts

• Health care cost - 34%

• Immigration Reform - 24%

• Improve economy - 24%

Top issues for White voters in battleground districts

• Health care cost - 33%

• Border Security - 21%

• Improve economy - 20%

Donald Trump and Sexism

• 69% of Latino voters in battleground districts believe Trump and the Republicans are normalizing sexism and sexual harassment against women in America

• 79% African American voters in battleground districts believe Trump and the Republicans are normalizing sexism and sexual harassment against women in America

• 71% Asian American and Pacific Islander voters in battleground districts believe Trump and the Republicans are normalizing sexism and sexual harassment against women in America

• 45% of white voters in battleground districts believe Trump and the Republicans are normalizing sexism and sexual harassment against women in America

• 68% of Native American voters in battleground districts believe Trump and the Republicans are normalizing sexism and sexual harassment against women in America

Mobilization in Battleground Districts

• 77% of Latino voters in battleground districts encouraged friends or family to register and/or vote

• 79% of African American voters in battleground districts encouraged friends or family to register and/or vote

• 75% of Asian American and Pacific Islander voters in battleground districts encouraged friends or family to register and/or vote

• 66% of White voters in battleground districts encouraged friends or family to register and/or vote

• 66% of Native American voters in battleground districts encouraged friends or family to register and/or vote

The poll focused on six states with competitive elections (CA, FL, GA, TX, NV, and AZ), a national survey of House battleground districts, and a national survey of Native American voters. The poll is based on randomly selected voters across the entire state, or congressional districts, giving all voters an equal chance to participate. This election eve poll, which more accurately captures voters of color than exit polls, will demonstrate how voters of color shaped the outcome of the 2018 election.

The following are statements from some of the pollsters on the American Election Eve Poll.

Latino Decisions

“We are recording very high levels of anger in the electorate and that is translating into engagement. Especially among people of color, anger towards the Trump administration is at an all-time high. Latino, Black, and AAPI voters all agree that Trump has created an environment of hostility and racism that is directed towards immigrants and minorities, and this is mobilizing people to take action,” said Matt Barreto of Latino Decisions. “The closing argument by Trump and Republicans was based on fear mongering and attacking immigrants and the polling data strongly suggests that voters rejected these appeals as divisive and distracting.

“Overwhelmingly, voters said the name calling and attacking immigrants is a distraction and accomplishes nothing. Instead, voters want to see immigration solved with bipartisan immigration policy. Voters of color in particular are taking things into their own hands, reporting high rates of "self-mobilization" and encouraging their friends and family to vote. Rather than waiting on campaigns to knock on their doors, many immigrant and minority voters are seizing the moment and mobilizing themselves, their families, and their communities. Just like we saw on Election Day in Virginia 2017, the headline of the 2018 election will be that a majority of voters do not buy racist attacks on immigrants. Instead, anti-immigrant fear mongering has backfired on Republicans and will likely cost them the House of Representatives,” concluded Barreto.

Asian American Decisions

"Asian American and Pacific Islander voters are headed into the 2018 midterms angry about the president's words and deeds and clearly rejecting the Republican Party's politics of fear and division,” said Taeku Lee of Asian American Decisions. “In stark contrast to the 2014 midterms, AAPI voters are also being mobilized and are engaged in unprecedented numbers."

African American Research Collaborative

“In this poll, we are seeing significant energy among African American voters. They are not just getting out to vote but over 80% also say they are encouraging friends and family to register and vote,” said Henry Fernandez of the African American Research Collaborative. “What's energizing them? Progressive issues, especially improving access to affordable health care, and a concern that Trump is taking the country backwards for African Americans. This election will determine the very viability of our democracy. Black voters understand this and are striving to protect our country's future.”

The following are statements from some of the partner organizations on the American Election Eve Poll.

AAPI Civic Engagement Fund

"This year’s poll reveals that Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) voters are mobilized like never before, with initial results pointing to an increase in early voting and other forms of political participation, like, encouraging friends or family to vote, donating to campaigns and attending events and rallies,” said EunSook Lee, Director of the AAPI Civic Engagement Fund. “Commissioned by a cross-sector of organizations to capture a fuller, more accurate picture of the increasingly diverse American electorate, the nonpartisan poll sheds unprecedented light on how African American, AAPI, Latino, Native American, and white voters engaged in the 2018 midterm elections."

America Votes

“America Votes is proud to be part of the coalition of progressive organizations sharing this critical polling information during the most crucial midterm election in recent history,” said America Votes President Greg Speed. “During a time when so many of our values and rights are under attack, it couldn’t be more important for us to gather and share this information about Americans—particularly historically marginalized and underrepresented communities—as they are making their voices heard at the polls.”

America’s Voice

"This election is a referendum on the racism and xenophobia of President Trump and his Republican Party. Trump's closing argument was an unprecedented and unacceptable combination of spreading lies, stoking fear and blowing smoke,” said Frank Sharry, Executive Director of America’s Voice. “Evidently, Trump wanted to point the finger at brown people in order to change the subject from the murder of eleven Jews in their house of worship and the spate of right-wing violence committed by his superfans. He also wanted to change the subject from the raid on our health care and the U.S. treasury at the behest of his donors. Well now that Trump has had his say, it’s time for the rest of us — Americans of diverse backgrounds and from every corner of the country — to have ours. We’re thrilled to be part of this project, which ensures that the voices of all of us are heard."

APIAHF

“Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders are making their voices heard this election cycle on the issues that remain important to our communities such as healthcare, immigration, and the economy,” said Kathy Ko Chin, president and CEO of the Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum. “Our communities make up more than five percent of voters in eight states and 108 congressional districts, and the poll results indicate the increasing recognition that our communities are important segments of the American voting electorate.”

Demos

“Today, Americans from all backgrounds are uniting to convey a clear condemnation of the race-baiting and fear tactics we’ve seen in the runup to the 2018 midterm elections,” said K. Sabeel Rahman, president of Demos.

“The nation-wide tactics by the Republican Party to restrict voting- particularly by people of color - are an unequivocal consequence of The Supreme Court’s 2013 Shelby County v. Holder ruling that eviscerated voting rights, declaring that voter suppression was no longer pervasive...

flagrant...widespread...rampant. As we have sadly seen, voter suppression is now indeed flagrant, widespread, and rampant- precisely because of the actions of the Court and the Republican Party.

“The strongest rebuke to the Court and to those suppressing ballots, and the surest way to redress the breakdowns in our democracy is for all eligible Americans to vote — vote in spite of sometimes overwhelming obstacles — vote to save our democracy.

“We at Demos are committed to ensuring that the rights of all Americans are respected and protected, and that all their voices are heard. We are also committed to transforming our democratic institutions to restore political power to the people, and particularly for communities of color whose voices have been deliberately silenced in an effort to concentrate political control,” concluded Rahman.

Indivisible

“Today, Americans around the country are coming together to reject a closing argument that was meant to incite fear and chaos,” said María Urbina, the Indivisible Project’s National Political Director. “Instead, voters of all backgrounds – black, brown and white – are unifying to deliver a rebuke to the President and his party. This poll, and the huge surge in early vote across the country, show a rich mobilization in grassroots political participation – not just in opposition to the President, but in support of a multiracial coalition that is offering a positive vision for our country’s future.”

Mi Familia Vota

“Latino voters are positioned to influence the outcomes of key state and federal races in today’s elections, motivated this year by anger at the attacks against immigrants and communities of color orchestrated by the White House,” said Ben Monterroso, co-founder and executive director of Mi Familia Vota. “Our year-round work on Latino civic engagement focused on turning our anger into voting and electing candidates who can stop the hate and support our communities’ issues. We delivered that voter mobilization message in ways we have not before, including large paid media campaigns. We expect politicians will now read into our votes the need to work with us on policy solutions moving forward.”

NAACP

“For the African American community, this election is about respect and ensuring that decisions impacting our communities do not happen without us at the table. It’s about understanding and expressing the political power of the Black vote in a way that tells the world our communities and our issues matter. During this important election, the NAACP remains clear on its intent to protect our votes from dilution, suppression or misappropriation. We stand with all voters of color and those committed to a just and inclusive society that values all members of the human family against candidates who seek to promote division and xenophobia,” said Derrick Johnson, NAACP President and CEO.

SEIU

"Voters are casting their ballots today for a country that works for all of us, regardless of the color of our skin or where we were born,” said Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Executive Vice President Rocio Sáenz. “For too many years working people, whether white, Asian, black or brown haven't been inspired to vote. This Election Day, we are standing up and saying no more. We will not allow anyone to divide us, or blame immigrants and people of color for our problems. We are electing candidates who are showing up in our neighborhoods, supporting a bold progressive agenda, and rejecting the politics of division and hate."

UnidosUS

“The American Election Eve poll provides a more accurate snapshot of the American mosaic, and of voters’ concern with political tactics designed to divide us rather than bring us together to ignite problem-solving. UnidosUS and its network registered over 80,000 voters this cycle, and our conversations with our community affirm that sentiment. They want to see positive change for their families, their communities and our country—that was part of their motivation to vote, and why 89% of Latino highly-likely voters, like the majority of their fellow Americans, believed it was important to vote to rebuke attempts by some politicians to distract us with fear tactics,” said Janet Murguía, President and CEO of UnidosUS.