Chapter One: Will More Immigrants Change Electoral Outcomes?

Published: May 6, 2021

Although many believe that minority and immigrant voters will realign national politics in a progressive direction, the reality is more complicated. In fact, the political future of America is not predetermined by demographic changes. While voters may be diversifying, the change is too slow to make a dramatic impact on any single election.

This lecture was recorded in the fall of 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Discussion Questions

1. Why is acculturation important for political participation?
2. What factors keep immigrants out of the electoral process?

Additional Resources

• Read “Winning California’s Latino Vote,” by David Leal. Available here.
• Read “One in Four Latinos Voted for Trump Last Time. They’ll Likely Do So Again,” by Álvaro J. Corral and David Leal. Available here.
• Is America’s Latino vote the “sleeping giant” the media predict it will be every four years? David Leal explains in the Area 45 podcast. Available here.