Introduction

Abstract

This book examines the ways in which immigration is transforming American politics by focusing on the attitudes and actions of the white population. It offers an explanation of how immigration could lead to a broad white backlash that transforms the basic political leaning of much of white America. It considers how the partisan patterns, electoral decisions, and policy preferences of native white Americans are changing in response to immigration's imprint. It also explores the overall patterns in aggregate white partisanship over the last fifty years and presents historical evidence to show that immigration can fundamentally alter partisan politics as well as racial politics. Finally, the book discusses two mechanisms through which immigration leads to political effects: demographics and news media.