Despite Donald Trump’s harsh anti-immigration rhetoric throughout this year’s presidential campaign, Hispanics are less likely than either whites or blacks to “strongly agree” that they are afraid of what will happen if their candidate loses. Hispanics also are less likely to agree that the stakes in this year’s presidential election are higher than usual.
Large majorities of all three major U.S. racial and ethnic groups agree the election stakes are higher this year than in prior years, with 66% of blacks, 63% of whites and 50% of Hispanics strongly agreeing. And while roughly seven in 10 or more of each group agree they are afraid of what will happen if their candidate does not win, 64% of blacks, compared with 53% of whites and only 38% of Hispanics, strongly agree.
Hispanic immigrants account for most of the differences between the views of Hispanics and those of blacks and non-Hispanic whites. Sixty-nine percent of native-born Hispanics strongly agree that this year’s election stakes are higher than usual, compared with 31% of Hispanic immigrants. Forty-five percent of Hispanics born in the U.S. strongly agree they are afraid of what will happen if their candidate for president does not win, compared with 30% of Hispanic immigrants. […]
Almost three in four black women (72%) strongly agree that they are afraid of what will happen if their candidate loses, compared with 55% of black men. The gender gap is smaller among whites and virtually non-existent among Hispanics.
Although younger blacks (71%) are more likely than those who are older (54%) to strongly agree they are afraid of the election outcome, the reverse is true among Hispanics and whites — older Hispanics and whites express the most fear.
