FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, May 21, 2026
Contact: Jessica Delos Reyes
Director of Communications
jess@newamericanleaders.org
719-494-7945
New American Leaders Action Fund Releases 2026 State of Representation Report Ahead of Midterm Elections
NEW YORK - New American Leaders Action Fund (NALAF) today released its 2026 State of Representation: New American Representation, Leadership and Gaps in State Legislatures. This biennial report examines the growing presence of New Americans in state legislatures across the country and documents where major gaps remain.
According to Dr. Shana Hardin, NALAF’s Director of Research and Data, NALAF spearheaded this research to “better understand whether state legislatures reflect the people they serve, whether immigrant communities can see themselves in public leadership, and whether policymaking is informed by the lived experience of communities that are too often overlooked.” This year's State of Representation report continues the work first presented in the State of Representation 2020, created then by New American Leaders as the first documented research examining immigrant representation in state legislatures by ethnicity, political party and gender.
Some key takeaways from this year’s State of Representation include:
New Americans now hold 419 state legislative seats, or 5.67% of all seats nationwide, up 15.94% since 2024.
New American women continue to outnumber men in state legislatures, overall. 215 women, 201 men, and three nonbinary legislators, with women in 13 states outnumbering New American men and nonbinary legislators.
New American legislators now trace their roots to 83 countries, with Mexico (85 legislators), India (35), the Dominican Republic (19), Cuba (17), and Vietnam, China and South Korea (16 each) topping the list.
Forty‑three states have at least one New American serving in the legislature, yet seven states (Alabama, Arkansas, Idaho, Mississippi, Montana, South Carolina and South Dakota) still have no New American legislators.
New Americans are increasingly serving in top chamber leadership roles in state legislatures, in states like California, Florida, Arizona, Vermont, Utah, New Mexico, Hawaii, Wyoming, and more, shaping what gets debated, funded and passed in statehouses.
Read the full report and other NALAF research here.
Dr. Hardin, the report’s lead researcher, is available for media interviews and expert commentary. Dr. Hardin can speak to the research methodology and key findings. Please contact Jessica Delos Reyes at jess@newamericanleaders.org or 719-494-7945 to arrange an interview.
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About New American Leaders Action Fund
New American Leaders Action Fund (NALAF) was launched in 2018 to help build a democracy that represents and includes all people. By supporting New Americans as they run for office, engage voters, expand civic engagement, and conduct original research, NALAF champions leadership that truly reflects the fabric of our nation. Stay connected with New American Leaders Action Fund (NALAF) by following us on social media @NALActionFund and sign up to receive updates at www.nalaf.org.
*New American Leaders and New American Leaders Action Fund are separate and distinct organizations. New American Leaders is a 501 (c)(3) organization and does not coordinate or participate in any aspect of the endorsement process, candidate or campaign support, or any other partisan political activity.