Survey Data Reveals Latino Christian Voters in Swing States Consider Israel When Voting

NEW YORK, July 24, 2024 (Newswire.com) - The Philos Project, in collaboration with Grey Matter Research & Consulting, has released a groundbreaking report highlighting Latino Christian perspectives on Israel in swing states. This report provides an in-depth look at the political, social, and religious attitudes of Latino Christians in pivotal swing states, emphasizing their views on Israel and how these views influence their voting behavior.

A key revelation from the report is the complex perspectives on the Israel-Palestine conflict and, in particular, the Israel-Hamas War. Six out of ten Latino Christians advocate for a ceasefire contingent on Hamas returning all hostages. Additionally, 63% of respondents blame Hamas for starting the conflict, while 19% blame Israel, and 14% blame Palestine. Views of Israel are generally more positive than views of Palestine, whether considering the nation/state, government, or people. The terror organization Hamas receives the least positive views among respondents.

Nearly two-thirds believe that Israel is the fulfillment of God's covenant with the Jewish people. Although only one in five believe the Jews are still the chosen people today, 38% sympathize with Israel mainly for religious reasons. A significant finding is that four in ten respondents believe that Jews have an outsized role in America's public culture. However, this perception varies with nativity; U.S.-born Latinos tend to be more pro-Israel, while those born outside the U.S. are more sympathetic to Palestinians. Christian theology heavily shapes the views of those surveyed. Notably, the more spiritually engaged the respondents are—measured by regular church attendance, Bible reading, and study—the more likely they are to lean conservative.

The survey, conducted across Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, highlights that Latino Christians in these crucial states exhibit significant political diversity. Among the respondents, 33% identify as conservative, 39% as moderate, and 28% as liberal.

19% of respondents closely follow international news. Fox News emerges as the preferred news source for conservatives, while liberals lean towards CNN and ABC. Despite differing sources, six out of ten respondents believe their chosen news outlets are unbiased regarding Israel.

Jesse Rojo, Director of Philos Latino, stated, "This survey could not have come at a more opportune time. With Israel constantly in the news and US elections around the corner, we hope this report empowers politicians in these swing states to hear what their constituents have to say about this issue." 

The Philos Project promotes positive Christian engagement in the Middle East. With the release of this survey, Philos continues to lead the charge educating the media regarding Christian support for Israel. During this fraught election cycle, this data could not be more important for politicians in swing states to consider. 

For a summary of the survey, click here. To ask questions or to access the full report, contact josefa@philosproject.org.

Source: The Philos Project