FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, March 11, 2026
Contact: Jessica Delos Reyes
Director of Communications
jess@newamericanleaders.org
719-494-7945
New American Leaders Action Fund White Paper Reveals What It Really Takes for New Americans to Run for Office — and Win
NALAF releases first-of-its-kind research based on in-depth interviews with 10 of its endorsed New American candidates following the 2025 election cycle
NEW YORK - New American Leaders Action Fund (NALAF) today released Running as a New American: Inside the Campaign Trail and the Battle for Local Representation, a groundbreaking white paper drawing on in-depth, post-election interviews with ten NALAF-endorsed candidates of New American backgrounds (immigrants, children of immigrants or refugees). The white paper goes beyond win-loss tallies to capture the motivations, strategies, challenges and support systems that define the New American candidate experience — before, during and after Election Day.
New Americans are running for office in growing numbers, yet face distinct barriers: navigating bias, closing fundraising gaps and building campaigns in communities that have historically been underrepresented in elected office. This white paper gives voice to those experiences, revealing what keeps candidates in the race, what pushes them to the brink, and which forms of support make a measurable difference for representation and long-term leadership development.
Directly from the candidates themselves, the white paper explores:
How New American candidates navigate racial and cultural bias on the campaign trail
The fundraising gaps they face — and the community-powered strategies that help them outwork better-resourced opponents
What types of organizational support, from training to endorsements, move the needle on electoral outcomes
The personal and emotional toll of running, and what sustains candidates through adversity
Insights into building long-term pipelines for New American political leadership
The white paper’s first-person accounts and practitioner insights offer rare, on-the-record perspectives that go well beyond available quantitative data on New American political participation.
Dr. Shana Hardin, Director of Research and Data for the New American Leaders Action Fund and the white paper lead researcher, is available for media interviews and expert commentary. Dr. Hardin can speak to the research methodology, key findings, and their implications for electoral strategy, policy and the future of New American political leadership. 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.