Will California Republicans Lead National Party Forward on Immigration?
Today, on a press call with reporters, immigration reform leaders and elected officials discussed recent polls conducted by Magellan Strategies in three Republican-held congressional districts in California: CD-10 (Denham), CD-21 (Valadao) and CD-22 (Nunes).
Moderated by Lynn Tramonte, Deputy Director of America’s Voice, today’s call featured Angélica Salas, Board Chair of CHIRLA Action Fund; Adriana Hernandez, Leader with Congregations Building Community, Modesto CA; Anthony Cannella, State Senator (R-Ceres); and Jeff Gorell, State Assemblyman (R-Camarillo).
California experienced many years ago what other states are now beginning to understand: the demographic changes taking place in our nation today are also changing the face of politics, and politicians who find themselves on the wrong side of the nation’s fastest-growing group of new voters are also finding themselves out of a job. As California Republicans recently noted, the future of the party is at stake unless the GOP embraces a more welcome stance on immigration reform. The new polls make it clear that Republican representatives have much to gain and nothing to lose by choosing to lead on commonsense immigration reform.
Anthony Cannella, State Senator (R-Ceres) said:
I believe that fixing our broken immigration system is vital for the future of California and the rest of the nation. It is time for more Republicans to get actively involved in immigration reform. We must recognize the hard work and contributions of our immigrant population and remember that we are all immigrants to this great country.
Said Jeff Gorell, State Assemblyman (R-Camarillo):
There is a growing solidarity and unity among Republicans to support action on immigration reform and to put this issue behind us as a state and a nation once and for all. Doing so is the right thing to do, and it is consistent with the history and core values of the party of Lincoln and Reagan.
The vast majority of likely voters in all three Republican-held districts support immigration reform along the lines of the bill that passed the Senate in June and was recently introduced in the House. Specifically, 69% voters in all three districts, including high numbers of Republicans, support a path to citizenship for the 11 million aspiring Americans.
According to Lynn Tramonte, Deputy Director of America’s Voice:
One of the most important insights from these polls is the fact that voters want their representative to lead and solve problems on a bipartisan basis. Even Republicans’ opinions of their own Party would improve if they reached across the aisle and worked with Democrats to pass real immigration reform. The citizenship provisions are a central component, and one that is popular with people across the political perspective. Really, passing reform should be a no-brainer for both Democrats and Republicans in Congress.
More data and poll analysis is available here.
“The country’s mood is changing to one where politicians have to do more than just promise change and hope if they want to be reelected. The California electorate, especially, wants leaders who stand for the good of the overall community, not just profess blind allegiance to their party. The beauty of this shift is that it gives the growing immigrant and Latino electorate a lot more clout than anyone could have predicted,” said Angelica Salas, Board Chair of CHIRLA Action Fund. She added, “We have to be consistently vigilant and keep these leaders accountable and delivering just like any worker in America is asked to do in their own job. If they won’t or can’t deliver, we will choose someone one else.”
Yesterday, a group of immigration reform advocates and faith leaders held a press conference in front of the Fresno City Hall to release the poll results and urge Congressmen Denham, Valadao and Nunes to co-sponsor HR15.
“As a registered voter in Congressman Jeff Denham’s district, my vote is influenced by his actions, not his words. I thank Congressman Denham for standing in support for a pathway to citizenship, but I challenge him to stop talking and start acting, co-sponsor HR15,” said Adriana Hernandez-Garcia, Leader with Congregations Building Community in Modesto CA.
Below is a summary of the poll results for each district:
- In Rep. Denham’s district, 72% of likely 2014 voters support immigration legislation along the lines of HR 15, including 68% of Republicans. If Rep. Denham were to sponsor legislation along these lines, 43% of voters in CD-10 say they would be more likely to vote for him, while 25% say it would not change their vote either way. Fifty percent of both Latinos and Republicans say they would be more likely to vote for Denham if he sponsors the bill.
- In Rep. Valadao’s district, 77% of likely 2014 voters support immigration legislation along the lines of HR 15, including 75% of Republicans. If Republicans and Democrats work together to pass this proposal, 57% of likely voters in this District—including 63% of Republicans—say they would have a better opinion of Republicans in Congress. Only 17% of all voters and 14% of Republicans say it would give them a lower opinion of the GOP.
- Finally, in Rep. Nunes’ district, 74% of likely 2014 voters support immigration legislation along the lines of HR 15, including 71% of Republicans. If Republicans and Democrats work together to pass this proposal, 57% of likely voters in this District—including 64% of Republicans—say they would have a better opinion of Republicans in Congress.
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