The U.S. State Department estimates that 9 million nationals live abroad, with the American presence in the Iberian Peninsula growing sharply since 2015. In Spain, the U.S. population in 2024 stood at 138% of its 2020 level, while in Portugal it had reached 439% of its 2020 level. These communities, increasingly significant in size and organization, have become active sites of partisan mobilization during U.S. electoral cycles. This article examines the political transnationalism of Americans residing in Spain and Portugal, focusing on how processes of political resocialization—through exposure and transference—shape their engagement with U.S. politics during the 2024 election campaign. Drawing on a virtual survey disseminated through partisan committees and diaspora networks, we assess political knowledge, efficacy, interest, participation, and tolerance. Explanatory factors include limited sociodemographic characteristics alongside migration trajectories and variables related to both previously mentioned theories. We employ canonical correlation analysis alongside heliograph visualizations to capture patterns of behavior and enhance interpretability. By situating these dynamics in a context of electoral polarization, the study advances understanding of how non-resident citizens influence and are influenced by transnational political processes and broader debates on democratic quality.
Boscán et al. (Sun,) studied this question.