MAPA Poll Results: California Voters Want 3rd Party Candidates in Gubernatorial Debates

A nonpartisan opinion poll has found that a majority of likely California voters with an opinion in the gubernatorial race favor the inclusion of third party candidates—especially that of Peter Camejo, the only Latino in the race—in the upcoming debate(s).

Sacramento, CA (PRWEB) September 17, 2006 -- A nonpartisan opinion poll has found that a majority of likely California voters with an opinion in the gubernatorial race favor the inclusion of third party candidates—especially that of Peter Camejo, the only Latino in the race—in the upcoming debate(s).

The poll was conducted by Pulse Opinion Research and commissioned by the
Mexican American Political Association (MAPA). It is the first 2006 survey asking
likely voters who they would want to see in a gubernatorial debate and all candidates were included in the poll.

“The results were somewhat surprising and unexpected—especially around the opinions of the poorest and Democratic voters,” said MAPA National President Nativo V. Lopez. “What is abundantly clear is that the California electorate wants to see third party candidates participate in the gubernatorial debate(s). I call upon the nominees of both major parties to heed their call and be inclusive.”

Camejo was the only third party candidate to receive an overall positive rating—44% "Yes" to 26 % “No” when voters were asked if he should be in the debates. Other non-major party candidates had as many or more people opposed to them being in debates as supported their inclusion. Camejo's strongest support came from Independents (55-16%), Democrats (50-16%), the poor (64-16%) and youth (55-11%). Voters with children and women also polled heavily for Camejo. Only Republicans and the wealthy opposed him.

The poll comes on the heels of a report by the Public Policy Institute of California Wednesday that showed that while the state's diversity has grown, Whites represent 72% of voters and 63% of Latinos are not registered. Camejo is the only Latino gubernatorial candidate.

Complete results of the poll are available upon request.

Nativo V. Lopez is currently the National Director of Hermandad Mexicana Latinoamericana (HML) and the National President of the Mexican American Political Association (MAPA). Both charges require of him full-time advocacy for the civil, human, labor, and immigrant rights of Mexicans, Mexican Americans, and Latinos throughout the United States. He has dedicated his life to these causes since his years as a high school student where he founded the first student movement organization, United Mexican American Students (UMAS). He was born in Boyle Heights, Los Angeles in 1951 to Mexican American parents, and is of both eighth-generation native U.S. born and immigrant stock. Nativo met the legendary immigrant organizer, leader, and advocate, Humberto “Bert” Corona, in 1971 and worked with him in various capacities for thirty years with the organizations Center for Autonomous Social Action (CASA), Hermandad Mexicana, and MAPA. He was a lead organizer in the mass protest pro-immigrant marches of this past March, April and May, and helped create the National Alliance of Immigrant’s Rights (NAIR) last month in Chicago, Illinois.

The Mexican American Political Association, a multi-partisan advocacy organization, was founded in Fresno, California in 1963 and has chapters throughout California. It is dedicated to the constitutional and democratic principles of political freedom and representation for the Mexican, Mexican-American and Latino people in the United States. For more information, visit the MAPA website at www.MAPA.org.

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