Vice President Kamala Harris is maintaining her lead over Republican candidate Donald Trump among Latino voters in Arizona and Nevada, two pivotal states for the 2024 election. However, her support among younger Latino men is declining, as revealed by two exclusive YSL News/Suffolk University polls.

In Arizona, 57% of Latino voters indicated they plan to support or lean towards Harris, while 38% expressed leaning towards Trump, based on a survey of 500 likely Hispanic voters. In Nevada, Harris leads Trump 56% to 40% among Latino voters, according to another poll of 500 Hispanic voters.

The surveys, conducted in both English and Spanish from September 27 to October 2, have a margin of error of 4.4 percentage points in each state.

As Harris and Trump face off in a very close race, outcomes in key states like Nevada and Arizona will be crucial. A previous YSL News/Suffolk University poll from last month indicated Trump held a 6 percentage point lead over Harris in Arizona, although that was also within the margin of error.

Latino voters represent about one in four voters in Arizona and Nevada.

There is a noticeable gender divide among the supporters of both candidates, with Trump garnering more backing from younger Latino men under 50, while Harris enjoys stronger support from women.

In Arizona, 51% of Latino men aged 18-34 support Trump, while only 39% support Harris. For Latino men aged 35-49 in Arizona, 57% are for Trump compared to 37% for Harris.

A similar trend is observed in Nevada, where 53% of Latino men aged 18-34 back Trump and 40% support Harris. The statistics for Latino men aged 35-49 mirror this, with 53% for Trump and 39% for Harris.

“He’s all about putting America first,” stated Yordany Gonzalez, a 34-year-old Las Vegas resident who supports Trump. “I believe everything should stay in the U.S. I don’t agree with money being sent out of this country. If it is, then what are we gaining from that?”

Gonzalez, who immigrated from Cuba at the age of 7 and has lived in Las Vegas since, registered as a Democrat and voted for President Joe Biden in 2020 “out of loyalty to my family.”

“This time, I’m not doing that because I would be deceiving myself,” he shared.

David Paleologos, director of the Suffolk University Political Research Center, noted that while it’s encouraging for Harris to lead Latino voters in both states, the current margins may not suffice for her to secure victories there.

“It’s just the young males that this offset … is the reason why Harris’s support is not as high as it needs to be (for a win),” Paleologos explained.

Harris’s polling numbers among Latino voters in both states are trailing those of Biden from 2020.

During that election, Biden outperformed Trump among Latinos in Arizona by 24 percentage points, 61% to 37%, according to CNN exit polls. In Nevada, Biden had a 26-point lead with 61% to 35% against Trump, as per CNN exit polls from 2020.

Latina women of all ages show a strong preference for Harris over Trump, with 62% of Latinas aged 18-24 indicating they support Harris, compared to 33% for Trump.

“I admire her commitment to ensuring women have full rights over their own bodies and making their own choices,” expressed Celeste Garcia, a 22-year-old who has always lived in Phoenix.

With reproductive rights and gun safety (she appreciates that Harris owns a gun) as her top concerns, Garcia is preparing to vote for the first time.

“Voting is a significant responsibility,” she remarked. “Everyone has the chance to vote when they turn 18, but it’s impactful. Even if you’re just one person, you can drive change or maintain consistency, and that matters to me.”

Top Issues: Inflation and Immigration

Among Latino voters in both states, inflation and immigration ranked as the top concerns.

In Nevada, 37% of Latino voters said inflation was their primary worry, while immigration followed as the second concern at 17%. The stark partisanship in the nation also alarmed many Latino voters, with 12% citing unity as their top priority.

Abortion-related issues ranked fourth in Nevada, identified as a top concern by 8% of Latino voters.

In Arizona, inflation topped the list at 29%, followed closely by immigration at 15%. Abortion concerns were third at 11%, and 10% pointed to unity as their main concern.

Harris has made reproductive rights a central theme of her campaign, while Trump primarily focuses on immigration issues.

Many young Latinos, especially those supporting Trump, are primarily focused on economic issues, according to recent polls.

Arturo Munoz, a 28-year-old from Phoenix, shared that his income increased while he was serving in the Army during Trump’s presidency and commended “everything he did for blue-collar workers.”

As a registered Independent working as a truck driver, Munoz is hopeful that Trump can restore affordability to the economy, recalling how he experienced improvements from 2016 to 2020.

“Currently, I’m spending an outrageous amount just to cover bills for my family,” Munoz stated.

Similarly, Alexander Huerta, a 26-year-old state employee from Reno earning $35 an hour, expressed that financial stress is his biggest concern. He lives paycheck to paycheck and is troubled about the funds allocated to wars abroad instead of supporting domestic needs.

“Everything feels negative no matter what topic comes to mind,” he added. “I struggle to identify anything positive at the moment.”

However, some voters worry about the implications of another Trump presidency for the future of the United States.

“It appears to be a better alternative because we already tried Trump,” observed Daniel Gutierrez, 30, from Las Vegas. “His presidency was chaotic, and he seems preoccupied with other issues that don’t advance the country.”

As an Independent voter, Gutierrez considers the U.S. global standing as his top election issue. He feels that Trump has overlooked essential partnerships with key allies.

“It’s gotten to the point where other countries don’t see us as reliable allies anymore, and I believe that has hurt us significantly,” Gutierrez expressed.

Moreover, he appreciates that Vice President Harris appears to be committed to serving the public interest.

“She seems dedicated to ensuring the nation remains stable rather than just focusing on her personal ambitions,” he stated.