WASHINGTON, April 4, 2019 — Intersections of Our Lives released new polling data that demonstrates the growing power of Black, Latina, Asian American and Pacific Islander women voters. This new research follows the 2018 midterm election where women of color voted at historic levels. Intersections of Our Lives is a collaborative of three Reproductive Justice organizations: National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health; In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda; and National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum.
The poll demonstrates that women of color voters are overwhelmingly concerned about the state of the country (75 percent) and believed that the stakes were too high not to vote in the 2018 election (88 percent). Importantly, a majority of women of color are paying close attention to the actions of their elected officials and want to see progress made on the issues they care about – including access to clean water, access to affordable health care, and ending racial discrimination.
“Our national survey findings make it clear that women of color are a powerful voice in the electorate that shouldn’t be ignored – we are paying attention and participating in our democracy at higher rates than ever before,” said Jessica González-Rojas, Executive Director of the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health.
“The poll confirms what we have known all along: that women of color perceive policies intersectionally and that our collective experiences motivate us to demand that our elected officials act now for justice and equity for our communities,” said Marcela Howell, President and Founder of In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda.
“Intersections of Our Lives is committed to ensuring women of color have a strong voice in our nation and we are dedicated to holding elected officials accountable for addressing the issues and barriers that millions of women of color around the country face every single day,” said Sung Yeon Choimorrow, Executive Director of the National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum.