More than 50 percent of Nevada Latinos voted during the 2020 election, the second highest rate among swing states but still significantly trailing white voters, according to new research from the University of Southern California’s Center for Inclusive Democracy.
The report released last week found that Nevada’s 408,000 Latinos voters made up about 20 percent of the eligible voters in 2020, but represented only 15 percent of those who actually cast a ballot. With about 77 percent of Nevada voters casting a ballot in 2020, turnout was at least 50 percent higher among white voters compared to people of color. Nye and Storey counties had the highest percentage of Latino turnout that year, with the more populated Clark and Washoe counties lagging behind.
Only Florida, with a 58 percent Latino turnout in 2020, had a higher rate than Nevada among swing states, according to USC. Michigan had the lowest, with only 33 percent of Latinos voting that same cycle.
Looking ahead to the 2024 election, efforts to boost turnout rates for Nevada Latinos may prove key to the aspirations of Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump, both of whom are working to attract Latino support. Harris has helped consolidate Latino support in Nevada after replacing President Joe Biden on the Democratic ticket, while Trump has made overtures to members of the Culinary Union Local 226 and touted his proposal to end taxes on tips.