Immigrant Political Ambition Soars, Yet Election Hurdles Block Their Way in Sweden

The political representation gap between immigrants and natives persists across democratic parliaments.

We surveyed elected politicians, candidates for local office, and residents who have not run for office in Sweden — stratifying samples by immigrant status. This innovative case-control survey linked respondents to local political opportunity structures.

### Key Findings

• Political ambition doesn't vary significantly between immigrants and natives
• Differences in interest or efficacy cannot account for the underrepresentation gap
• Major barriers exist at the candidate selection stage rather than supply of potential candidates

### Why This Matters

Our findings suggest political elites play a decisive role in hindering immigrant representation through gatekeeping mechanisms, despite ample candidate interest.