Press advisory:
Data Reveals How Virginia Could Be Test Case for the National GOP in 2014 and Beyond
With Election Day in Virginia tomorrow, and the gubernatorial candidates’ positioning on immigration reform on stark display, a new election-eve poll will reveal how Virginia’s changing demographics are also changing the state’s politics. The Virginia race could be a sign of things to come for the GOP in 2014 when it comes to the politics of immigration.
The election-eve poll of extremely likely voters, conducted by Latino Decisions and sponsored by America’s Voice and People For the American Way (PFAW), assesses voters’ attitudes about the current immigration debate and how it impacts their political decisions. On Tuesday, Election Day, data on voters’ attitudes on key immigration policy issues will be released on a rolling basis. Latino Decisions, PFAW, and AV will first release the issue questions from this poll of 400 Asian and 400 Latino “extremely likely” voters in Virginia. Candidate selection data will also be available to reporters under embargo until 7pm Eastern if requested. The data will then be made public as the polls close in Virginia that night.
The next day, Wednesday, November 6th at 12pm ET, pollsters, civic engagement leaders and immigration experts will then analyze the full results on a press call/webinar.
If you are a member of the news media and would like to receive an embargoed copy of the gubernatorial race match-up results, please email Katy Green (katy@newpartners.com).
Republican gubernatorial candidate Ken Cuccinelli’s hardline immigration positions, including his past statements comparing immigrants to rats and his labeling of notorious anti-immigrant Rep. Steve King (R-IA) as his “favorite” congressman, have alienated a large swath of Latino, Asian, and immigrant voters who are increasingly influential in Virginia and nationally. In contrast, Democrat Terry McAuliffe has spent significant campaign resources on Hispanic outreach and even started a “Latinos con Terry” committee. On Wednesday, speakers will explain how the changing demographics and politics in Virginia could serve as a warning flag for the Republican Party in 2014 and beyond.
What: Election Day VA Poll Release (11/5) and Post-Election Webinar (noon 11/6)
How: To received embargoed results on 11/5, email katy@newpartners.com
To participate in the noon Eastern press call/webinar on 11/6 1) Call 1-866-952-7534; Passcode: VIRGINIA and follow the presentation here (meeting ID: VIRGINIA, entry code: ATTEND)
Press Call Speakers:
- Gary Segura, Professor of American Politics and Chair of Chicano/a Studies, Stanford University; Principal, Latino Decisions
- Xavier Medina Vidal, Assistant Professor of Political Science at Virginia Tech
- Dolores Huerta, Co-Founder of the United Farm Workers Union and longtime civil rights and labor activist
- Michael Keegan, President, People For the American Way
- Frank Sharry, Executive Director, America’s Voice
