Georgetown’s Nadya Hayasi and CERL Present New Findings on Immigrant Issue Priorities in the 2024 Elections

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PHILADELPHIA – At the New England Political Science Association (NEPSA) Annual Meeting, Nadya Hayasi from Georgetown CCT and CERL presented new findings from her paper: “The Politics of Belonging: Generational Differences in Immigrant Issue Priorities in the 2024 Elections.”

Based on an original national survey of eligible 2024 voters, designed by the Media and American Elections graduate seminar and sponsored by CERL, the study explores how first- and second-generation immigrant voters think about the issues that matter most this election cycle.

Key Insights:

• Immigrant identity is complex.
  Race, education, and income are often stronger predictors of political priorities than generational status alone.

• Second-generation voters stand in the middle.
  They reflect both the concerns of their parents and an increasing alignment with broader U.S. political trends.

• One-size-fits-all outreach doesn’t work.
  Campaigns often lump immigrant voters into one category. This research shows how dangerous and ineffective that is.

• Intersectionality matters.
  Economic insecurity, access to education, and racial identity are deeply intertwined in shaping political behavior and should inform our approach to civic engagement.
  

As campaigns scale their messaging, this study offers a reminder: Data-driven, culturally nuanced outreach isn’t just best practice. It’s essential.