FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
May 30, 2001 |
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Occasional and New Latino Voters Drove Record Turnout,
Latino and Jewish Voters Turnout at Higher Rate Than Other Groups in Primary
Los Angeles, CA: Voters from Los Angeles' Latino and Jewish communities voted at higher rates than Los Angeles' White, African American, Asian Pacific Islander communities according to a study of all votes cast released today by the William C. Velasquez Institute (WCVI). "Both Jewish and Latino voters turned out at higher rates than other ethnic groups, as well as the citywide average. Jewish voters turned out at a rate of 42.5% and represented 10% of all votes cast. Latinos turned out at a rate of 35.6% and represented 21.7% of all votes cast. Latinos set a new record for turnout, exceeding for the first time the rate of turnout for the white voters, as well as the city as a whole," said Antonio Gonzalez, WCVI president. Performing at below average rates (compared to the citywide average of 33.1%) were white voters (31.9%), Black voters (30.8%) and Asian Pacific Islander voters (27.8%).
City of Los Angeles Elections, April 10, 2001
Percentage Turnout by Ethnicity
Ethnicity |
Registered |
Voted |
% Voted |
Share of Vote |
| Latino |
309,736 |
110,119 |
35.6% |
21.7% |
| Asian-PI |
84,816 |
23,606 |
27.8% |
4.7% |
| Jewish |
119,205 |
50,719 |
42.5% |
10.0% |
| Black |
217,191 |
66,821 |
30.8% |
13.2% |
| White |
803,502 |
256,168 |
31.9% |
50.5% |
| Total |
1,534,450 |
507,433 |
33.1% |
100.0% |
| Source: WCVI Turnout Study Los Angeles City Elections April 10, 2001 |
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"Our analysis shows that the record high Latino vote was dominated by occasional and new voters. This is highly unusual since municipal elections tend to be dominated by comparatively more affluent and elderly high propensity voters. Campaigns and polls that only target high propensity voters in Los Angeles will inevitably miss the mark in predicting and persuading Latino electoral behavior," continued Gonzalez. On April 10th, only 30.8% of the Latino vote were comprised of high propensity voters versus 43.7% of non-Latino voters. Conversely, on April 10th, 39.8%% of the Latino vote was comprised of low propensity and new voters versus 21.54% of non-Latino voters.
Voter Propensity,
City of Los Angeles Mayoral Election April 10, 2001
| |
Voted 4/01 |
High Prop. |
% High Prop. |
Mid. Prop. |
% Mid. Prop. |
Low Prop. |
% Low Prop. |
| Non-Latino |
397,314 |
173,620 |
43.70% |
138,100 |
34.76% |
85,594 |
21.54% |
| Latino |
110,119 |
33,918 |
30.80% |
32,376 |
29.40% |
43,825 |
39.80% |
| Total |
507,433 |
207,538 |
40.90% |
170,476 |
33.60% |
129,419 |
25.50% |
| Souce: WCVI Analysis & Political Data, Inc. Key: High Prop. = 6,7,8 of 8 Mid. Prop. = 4,5 of 8 Low Prop. = 1,2,3 of 8 |
As the Mayoral run-off approaches, both candidates, former Assembly Speakers Antonio Villaraigosa and City Attorney Jim Hahn have strong ethnic bases of support that they must energize in order to win. Hahn received 71% support in the Black community in the April primary. Blacks comprised 45% of Jim Hahn's primary vote. Conversely, Latinos gave Villaraigosa 62% of their support, or 45% of his primary total.
Selected Minority Support,
City of Los Angeles Mayoral Election, April 2001
| |
Total Votes |
Black Vote |
% for Hahn |
B Vote for Hahn |
Hahn % from Black |
| Hahn |
106,189 |
66,821 |
71% |
47,443 |
45% |
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Total Votes |
Latino Vote |
% for Villa. |
L Vote for Villa. |
Villa % from Latino |
| Villaraigosa |
152,031 |
110,119 |
62% |
68,274 |
45% |
| Source: City Clerk Los Angeles Election Results April 10th 2001, Political Data, Inc. & LA Times Exit Poll Mayoral Election April 10th 2001 |
WCVI is a non-partisan research and policy advocacy organization with offices in Los Angeles and San Antonio. The WCVI Turnout study was conducted in three phases: an election day canvass of Spanish surname voters in selected precincts, a review of the same precincts once certified results were released, and a complete review of all Spanish surname votes cast once available on computer tape. The final phase was conducted for WCVI by Political Data.
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