Vice President Kamala Harris’s calculated efforts to win over Polish Americans in swing states like Pennsylvania by framing herself as a more pro-war candidate appear to be misfiring. During a debate in September, Harris reached out to the Keystone State’s 800,000 Polish Americans, warning that former President Donald J. Trump will be less committed to the proxy war against Russia in Ukraine, with Poland—a NATO member—supposedly next in line for 72-year-old President Vladimir Putin.
This foreign policy-focused approach is not resonating with the Polish American community, who are, for the most part, more concerned about domestic issues than geopolitical conflicts.“We’re giving billions of dollars to Ukraine. What about our people first?” said John Kuna, a board member of the Polish American Citizens Club in Dupont, in comments to POLITICO.
This reflects the broader frustration in the community over economic challenges at home, which they largely blame on the Biden-Harris government. Rising prices, job insecurity, and economic instability are taking priority over foreign policy: “I don’t live [in Poland] anymore. I care about here. People can’t afford groceries,” said another Polish American Citizens Club member, a first-generation immigrant who gave her name as Magdalena.
Trump won over Polish Americans in 2016 with his focus on Christian values and border security—which is also a growing concern in Poland, where would-be illegal immigrants recently killed a young border guard with a spear.
While some older Polish Americans recall the Cold War and fear Russian aggression, many younger Polish Americans feel disconnected from the issue. The sentiment at the Polish American Citizens Club is clear: voters want an administration prioritizing American interests. John Kuna explains, “Everybody wants to go to work, make money, come home, enjoy their families. That’s it.”