A study from The Immigration Lab at American University reveals that anti-immigrant rhetoric, once a powerful tool in U.S. elections, is losing its effectiveness in securing electoral wins. The research, which analyzed congressional and gubernatorial races from 2018 to 2022, found a 15% drop in the success of candidates running on hardline immigration platforms.
According to the study, anti-immigrant messages once associated with figures like Donald Trump are no longer a guaranteed path to victory. For example, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp's 2018 campaign heavily featured anti-immigrant themes, with ads highlighting his tough stance on immigration. However, in his 2022 re-election campaign, Kemp shifted focus away from immigration, emphasizing broader accomplishments like reducing government regulations. His more moderate approach led to a nearly threefold increase in his margin of victory.
