Partisan divides and perceptions among Hispanics and non-Hispanic whites at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic

Identity politics has shaped modern political dynamics, prompting individuals across party lines to perceive the same facts through differing lenses. Early perceptions of the COVID-19 pandemic's health impact were influenced by political affiliation, but how much did ethno-racial backgrounds affect these views? Since the pandemic highlighted disparities and partisan divides, I examine whether perceptions differed systematically across groups. I leverage the Views of the Electorate Research (VOTER) Survey to assess the perspectives of Hispanics and non-Hispanic Whites in early 2020. Perceptions were primarily shaped by partisanship; with this effect most pronounced among Whites. While Hispanic identity was associated with distinct perceptions, White individuals, more distant from the non-White experience of the pandemic, may have relied more on party affiliation in forming their views. Situated at the intersection of public health and identity politics, this work on perception underscores the need to explore politicized issues in the context of health disparities.