FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 8, 2022
CONTACT:
Mynellies Negrón | (703) 585-6727 | mynellies@communicationsshop.us
Washington D.C. – Newly naturalized citizens are a multi-racial, multi-generational, slightly majority women group of voters, that has grown by approximately 1.52 million since the 2020 Presidential election, and can sway the outcome of today’s midterm elections, including who controls the United States Senate and various gubernatorial and state legislative races in politically important states such as Pennsylvania, Arizona, Georgia, and Nevada. Since 2016, an estimated 5.19 million immigrants have naturalized and become New American Voters, as termed and discussed in the National Partnership for New Americans (NPNA)’s July 2022 report.
“New American voters have the most electoral power than they have had in recent U.S. history and as a voting bloc could play a decisive role in critical elections, this year and as we lean toward 2024,” said Nicole Melaku, executive director of NPNA. “Regardless of party, elected officials must pay increasing attention to our communities and the issues that are impacting our livelihoods, health, and other motivating factors getting voters out to the polls to stay relevant. New American voters are bringing vibrancy to our democracy. This is a powerful voting bloc of people who are multi-racial, multicultural, and composed of a slight majority of women who have the power to shape electoral outcomes across the country. At a time when anti-immigrant rhetoric and policies are spreading like wildfire in our country, new American voters have the opportunity to uplift their voices and determine the outcome of the midterm elections in politically important states, which could influence who will control the U.S. Congress in 2023.”
New American voters can play outsized roles in key states like Pennsylvania, Arizona, Georgia, and Nevada that could decide control of the U.S. Senate. Arizona is home to 63,857 citizens naturalized between 2016 and 2020, six times larger than the state’s margin of victory (10,457 votes) in the 2020 presidential election. In Georgia, there are 96,000 new citizens, eight times larger than the margin of victory (11.779 votes) in the 2020 presidential election and slightly larger than the margin of victory during the 2021 runoff election for the Senate position representing that state (93,272 votes). In Nevada, there are 42,976 newly naturalized citizens, which is larger than the margin of victory (33,596 votes) in the 2020 presidential election. In Pennsylvania, there are 85,000 new citizens, larger than the margin of victory (80,555 votes) in the 2020 presidential election. And in North Carolina, the 70,579 recently naturalized citizens near the state’s margin of victory (74,481 votes) in the 2020 presidential elections.
“SEIU is proud of the work we accomplished along with our allies to engage and reach millions of voters during this election cycle, including new American voters who have proven to be a force to be reckoned with” said Rocío Sáenz, Executive Vice President of SEIU. “As a result of our efforts, new American voters are better informed and empowered to make their voices heard at the polls to make clear that they will not stand by while our freedoms are taken away by extremist Republicans. New American voters will come out and vote in full force this election and elect leaders who will keep families together and protect our freedoms to move in order to provide for our families.”
“Promise Arizona is committed to building an Arizona where every potential eligible voter has the opportunity to make their voice heard and their vote counted,” said Petra Falcón, executive director of PAZ. “Newly naturalized citizens in Arizona care about the same issues other Arizona voters do: good jobs, a robust economy, quality education, and safe communities for the next generation, and this November, we’re going to make our voice heard at the polls.”
“New Americans are a force to be reckoned with and can be decisive in competitive elections. We are proud of the work we’ve done to register New Americans over the years and to get Georgia to where it is today. We will continue to build power for our community,” said Jerry González, GALEO Chief Executive Officer.
“Local organizations understand this electoral power and have been engaging to motivate and mobilize this voting bloc. Chavi Khanna Koneru, Executive Director of North Carolina Asian Americans Together (NCAAT), a local partner collaborating with the New American Voters campaign, explained that “the NPNA report underscores the potential for New American Voters to influence North Carolina’s midterm elections in key state and federal races. The largest share of newly naturalized citizens is from Asia, which contributed to Asian Americans becoming the fastest growing ethnic group in the state. NCAAT and others are dedicated to empowering our new citizens—new North Carolinians—to participate in our vibrant democracy this November.”
Recognizing the electoral power of new Americans, NPNA and SEIU, along with NPNA member organizations and national partners, worked to mobilize newly naturalized citizens to increase voter registration efforts and turnout rates through the New American Voters 2022 campaign. This campaign targeted newly naturalized citizens, especially in states where they reside in large numbers, to encourage them to get out to vote and exercise their democratic rights. The campaign used multiple approaches, including digital and social media platforms and partnerships with mayors and counties, to spread the message to newly naturalized citizens.
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The National Partnership for New Americans (NPNA) is a national multiethnic, multiracial organization that represents 60 of the largest regional immigrant and refugee rights organizations in 40 states. Its members provide large-scale services for the communities, to leverage their collective power and expertise for a national strategy. Learn more at partnershipfornewamericans.org.
The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) unites 2 million diverse members in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. SEIU members working in the healthcare industry, in the public sector and in property services believe in the power of joining together on the job to win higher wages and benefits and to create better communities while fighting for a more just society and an economy that works for all of us, not just corporations and the wealthy. Learn more at www.seiu.org
Promise Arizona (PAZ) – believes in promoting diversity, opportunity, and progress in everything we do. We do this by building power in our community, championing family and cultural values, and connecting people to life-changing resources. Our faith-based organization relies on members and volunteers to help build young community leaders and to create positive change in Arizona. Learn more at https://www.promiseaz.org/
GALEO is a non-partisan non-profit organization based in Norcross, Georgia, founded in 2003. GALEO strives for a better Georgia where the Latinx community’s contributions civically. GALEO focuses on increasing civic participation of the Latinx community and developing prominent Latino leaders throughout Georgia. Learn more at www.galeo.org
North Carolina Asian Americans Together (NCAAT) is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization committed to supporting equity and justice for all by fostering community among Asian Americans and allies in North Carolina through civic engagement, leadership development, grassroots mobilization, and political participation. Learn more at https://ncaatogether.org/