Right-wing populist parties often gain support by attracting voters from mainstream left groups. This has sparked debate about whether a 'accommodation strategy'—adopting more restrictive immigration views in line with the political mainstream—can help regain power for left-leaning governments.
Our study uses survey experiments among Danish citizens during a time when the stance of a major left party was unclear. We found that explicitly signaling an accommodation approach actually works differently than expected based on spatial politics models:
- Attracts voters leaning against immigration
- Repels voters supporting open borders
These effects matter significantly to parties: repelled anti-immigration supporters defect to other left-leaning parties, while attracted right-leaning voters join them. This explains why shifting toward more restrictive positions can increase overall electoral support for the mainstream left.
This research clarifies a key political dynamic in Denmark and demonstrates how strategic position-taking affects voter behavior.
