Ethnic Media Journalists Highlight Voter Concerns Ahead of 2026 Midterm Elections

-Editorial

As voters across the United States prepare for the Nov. 3 midterm elections, journalists covering ethnic and minority communities report growing concerns about the cost of living, immigration enforcement, civil rights and political representation, with uncertainty remaining over whether those concerns will translate into higher voter turnout.

During an Oct. 30 American Community Media (ACoM) national journalists’ roundtable, six reporters representing Indian American, Native American, Latino, Chinese American, African American and Arab American communities discussed the issues influencing voters in their respective regions.

The discussion, moderated by ACoM Associate Editor Pilar Marrero, examined political engagement, economic pressures, voter participation and the role of community journalism in informing the electorate.

In California, affordability and immigration enforcement have emerged as significant concerns among Latino voters, according to Nestor Fantini, co-editor of HispanicLA.com, a Spanish-language publication covering Los Angeles and Southern California.

Fantini cited a recent UCLA study indicating that 76% of registered Latino voters in California are highly concerned about meeting everyday living expenses, while 40% have reduced grocery spending.

He said rising housing costs, gasoline prices, health insurance premiums, and utility bills are placing additional financial pressure on families.

Immigration enforcement has also contributed to uncertainty, particularly among mixed-status households concerned about federal operations near voting locations.

According to Fantini, a Latino Community Foundation survey found that more than 65% of California Latino voters expressed concern about the possibility of immigration enforcement activity at polling centers.

However, he said that concern does not necessarily mean lower participation.

“There’s fear. There’s no doubt that there’s fear,” Fantini said. “But there is also determination.”

He cited polling from UnidosUS indicating that 76% of Latino voters were certain or almost certain to participate in the election.

Fantini also emphasized the importance of local elections, particularly the Los Angeles mayoral race, where housing affordability, homelessness, public safety and municipal services remain prominent concerns.

In Silicon Valley, Vandana Kumar, publisher of India Currents, described a more complicated relationship between political awareness and electoral participation among Indian Americans.

Kumar said community members frequently discuss national policies and political developments but do not always participate in local elections.

“We do want to recognize that there is a difference between political engagement and electoral engagement,” Kumar said.

She noted that Indian Americans represent a diverse population with differing political affiliations, economic circumstances, and immigration experiences.

Employment uncertainty in the technology industry, including layoffs and the growing influence of artificial intelligence, has become an important issue for many families.

For workers holding H-1B visas, losing employment can also threaten their ability to remain in the United States.

“A job loss isn’t just a financial setback,” Kumar said. “It can put their immigration status, their family’s future in the United States at risk.”

She added that expensive housing, child care, education, and responsibilities involving aging relatives are contributing to financial uncertainty even among households with relatively high incomes.

Kumar said concerns about immigration status and discrimination can encourage political involvement among some residents while discouraging others from participating publicly.

In southeastern Idaho, Lori Edmo, editor of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes’ weekly newspaper, discussed the impact of federal funding decisions on Native American communities.

Edmo said reductions in federal support have affected programs providing essential services, including housing and other community assistance.

She emphasized the federal government’s treaty obligations and trust responsibilities toward tribal nations.

 Public land management, environmental protections and access to natural resources are also important electoral issues, she said.

“A lot of the federal funding that’s been allocated, a lot of it has been cut,” Edmo said, adding that tribal communities continue to rely on federal resources to support programs and services.

She expressed concern about proposals affecting public lands because tribal treaty rights include hunting and fishing access in certain areas.

Edmo said these issues have encouraged voter participation, including early voting, while tribal organizations have worked to provide information about candidates and election procedures.

In New York, Rong Xiaoqing, a journalist covering Chinese American communities, reported stronger interest in the election compared with previous midterm cycles.

She cited citywide early voting figures showing participation approximately 70% higher than during the previous midterm election, although she acknowledged that comparable statistics specifically for Chinese American neighborhoods were unavailable.

Rong said inflation and immigration enforcement are influencing political discussions in neighborhoods such as Flushing and Sunset Park.

She reported that some restaurants and transportation businesses have experienced declining customer activity as residents limit travel because of immigration-related concerns.

However, she emphasized that Chinese American voters hold different political perspectives, including support for stricter immigration policies among some conservative residents.

Local elections have also attracted attention because candidates are addressing neighborhood-specific concerns, including homelessness, sanitation and street vending.

In Mississippi, Edelia Carthan, a contributor to The Mississippi Link, said rising food and gasoline prices, health care access and concerns about voting rights have generated interest in the state’s U.S. Senate race.

She discussed the historical significance of Black political representation in Mississippi, including the state’s history of voter suppression and barriers to statewide office.

Carthan said the Senate contest involving Democratic candidate Scott Colom and Republican incumbent Cindy Hyde-Smith has drawn attention to wages, health care and civil rights.

She also highlighted the importance of understanding Mississippi’s political history when evaluating contemporary elections.

Economic conditions remain especially challenging in communities with limited grocery access and medical services, she said.

Carthan noted that hospital closures and the availability of affordable health care are among the issues influencing voters.

In Michigan, Osama Siblani, publisher of The Arab American News in Dearborn, said Arab and Muslim American voters are confronting economic pressures alongside concerns about discrimination and political rhetoric.

Siblani described what he considers an increasingly hostile political environment toward Arab and Muslim Americans, including criticism and allegations directed at community leaders.

He disputed accusations made against him in recent media coverage and said such controversies have contributed to tensions within the community.

Beyond those disputes, Siblani said residents remain concerned about gasoline prices, grocery expenses and health insurance costs.

He also discussed political organizing surrounding Michigan’s elections, including community interest in Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed.

Siblani, who also serves as president of the Arab American Political Action Committee, said the organization’s Oct. 28 anniversary gathering attracted candidates seeking statewide and federal offices.

He described the event as an indication of political engagement among Arab American voters, although actual turnout will not be known until Election Day.

Throughout the discussion, panelists emphasized that economic concerns extend across geographic, ethnic, and political boundaries.

Housing costs, employment security, health care expenses and immigration policies were recurring issues, although their effects differed among communities.

The journalists also discussed how ethnic media organizations contribute to election coverage by providing information tailored to the populations they serve.

Kumar said community-based journalists can explain complicated government policies through the experiences of residents directly affected by them.

“We create spaces where people feel heard, we explain how decisions affect them, the community, and we help them understand how to participate without actually telling them what to think,” Kumar said.

Rong said Chinese-language publications regularly provide practical election information, including voter registration procedures, early voting deadlines, polling locations, and ballot questions.

Edmo described efforts by tribal public affairs offices to distribute voter guides and inform residents about candidates and policies affecting treaty rights and natural resources.

Carthan emphasized the importance of historical reporting and regular coverage of government institutions, including city councils, school boards and state legislatures.

Siblani said ethnic publications also help communities participate in broader political discussions while maintaining connections to their cultural backgrounds.

Fantini described ethnic journalism as a means of documenting community experiences that might otherwise receive limited attention from larger news organizations.

ACoM founder Sandy Close said the discussion demonstrated the importance of including community journalists in national conversations about public policy and elections.

She said ethnic media organizations provide perspectives from populations whose experiences may not always be reflected in broader political coverage.