With unprecedented influence over an election, African American women and Hispanic women say economic security on par with key race and gender issues
Washington, D.C. — African American women and Hispanic women in the state of Virginia will be the deciding factor in the upcoming elections, making issues facing their families a key focus for all candidates. On behalf of the Center for American Progress, Latino Decisions interviewed 400 African American and Hispanic women voters in Virginia and found that economic issues, often together with barriers related to race and ethnicity, are front and center as these voters think about the coming elections. An overwhelming majority—83 percent of African American and 88 percent of Hispanic women voters in Virginia —would like to see the next president focus on improving the nation’s economic well-being and view the well-being of working families as a top priority, underscoring that a range of issues will be important in engaging with these communities this year.
“Among the biggest concerns for millions of working families in Virginia is economic security, especially for women and families of color,” said Virginia Minority Caucus Chair, Charniele Herring. “Candidates must prioritize family economic issues and have concrete plans to address the economic challenges of all working families.”
The survey also finds that working African American and Hispanic women in Virginia are facing significant amounts of work-related hardship, and they are in favor of policies that would address the economic challenges they face.
Key findings include:
- Eighty percent of African American women and 71 percent of Hispanic women voters in Virginia are willing to support a candidate who supports policies that working families need.
- 67 percent of African American women and 60 percent of Hispanic women, report that affordable childcare is “out of reach” for them in Virginia.
- Low pay is an obstacle confronting a large majority of African American women—62 percent—and Hispanic women—63 percent.
“Times have changed, but our policies are out of step with the realities of Virginia families,” said Angela Maria Kelley, Senior Vice President at CAP. “There is too much at stake to continue failing to advance these critical policies. We urge all candidates to have concrete plans to address economic security.”
While issues such as equal pay, paid sick leave, and affordable child care receive broad support among many groups, African American women and Hispanic women in Virginia overwhelmingly see how these policies would help them and their families. These issues would be key in addressing many of the economic security challenges facing these women and their families and include the following findings:
- Eighty-one percent of African American women and 71 percent of Hispanic women favor that the government should be doing more—not less—to enact policies such as equal pay, paid sick days, paid family and medical leave, and affordable child care into law.
- 60 percent of African American women and 52 percent of Hispanic women in Virginia say that the quality and availability of childcare would increase rather than decrease if childcare workers were paid more.
- Fifty-five percent of African American women workers and 62 percent of working Hispanic women also say there is “not enough opportunity for advancement” in their current work situation.
Resources:
Listen to the press call discussing the findings of the research.
For more information or to speak with an expert, contact Jennifer Molina at [email protected] or 202.478.5328.