Newly Naturalized Voters Cite Family Status in 2026 Midterm Decisions

Nicole Solis-Sison, 34, will cast her first vote in New York City this month. She became a U.S. citizen earlier this year after arriving in Los Angeles from the Philippines at age seven. Her family originally sought asylum to escape government pursuit. An agent from the then-Immigration and Naturalization Services recommended they file for asylum while on U.S. soil. That advice allowed the family to remain legally in the country. Solis-Sison said she feels a weight to protect others going through similar processes.

Juan Escalante, 37, is also voting in a general election for the first time. He moved from Venezuela to South Florida at age 11. He discovered his undocumented status during his junior year of high school. His parents hired a lawyer who mishandled their immigration case, which delayed his path to citizenship. He gained deferred action status under the Obama administration. In 2025, he became the first citizen in his family. Escalante, who lives in California, spent considerable time researching his large mail-in ballot. He stated that his values as an immigrant and a Latino are translated through his ballot choices.

Deisy España, 24, of Wisconsin, votes in a mixed-status family. She is a citizen, but her parents are from Mexico and were undocumented for many years. Her mother recently obtained a green card. España recalled her mother praying during police traffic stops out of fear of being turned over to ICE. She said the fear persists despite recent changes. She described her motivation for voting as a responsibility for her parents who cannot vote.

Leydi Gonzalez, 23, of Texas, is a citizen with parents from El Salvador. She turned 21 this year and immediately petitioned for her parents' legal status. They now have authorization to be in the U.S. and are awaiting residency approval. Gonzalez said her family discussed contingency plans for her siblings if her parents were detained. She cited the killing of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo by an ICE agent in Texas as a recent event that heightened community concerns.

Voters in these groups often cite specific policy risks when selecting candidates. Solis-Sison mentioned worries about housing and student loans but emphasized her immigrant experience as a primary driver. Escalante focused on the power of the vote to serve the greater good. España and Gonzalez both stated that their votes are cast partly on behalf of their non-citizen parents. The 2026 midterms include a high-profile U.S. Senate race in Texas. Democrat James Talarico is polling ahead of Republican Ken Paxton in that state.

The group of new voters includes individuals who recently completed the naturalization process or were born in the U.S. to non-citizen parents. They report feeling a personal connection to immigration policy that extends beyond their own legal status. Several mentioned creating personal voter guides to navigate the election. They aim to influence outcomes that affect family security and future immigration laws.