Local Officials Increasingly Discuss International Issues with Constituents

A recent CivicPulse survey suggests that local officials across the United States are hearing about international issues from constituents more frequently. The 2025 survey, conducted in partnership with Dr. Jonathan Chu of the National University of Singapore, found that nearly two-thirds of respondents view international affairs and U.S. foreign policy as moderately to extremely relevant to their communities.

The survey asked local officials how often specific issues came up in conversations with constituents. Compared with the same survey conducted in 2023, the 2025 results show growing attention to international issues (see figure below).

Immigration saw the largest increase: 72% of respondents said it comes up occasionally or often, up from 61% in 2023. The prevalence of international trade and investment rose 6 points, from 43% to 49%, while international security and war increased 5 points, from 50% to 55%. The global environment and climate increased by 2 points, from 52% to 54%. 

Recent enforcement activity helps explain the sharp rise in immigration-related discussion in particular. Officials repeatedly referenced the activities of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as drivers of local conversation. One council member in Illinois said that ICE is "interfering with my community’s ability to live in peace.” 

Many policymakers also connect immigration to local economic concerns. Some say it strains resources such as housing and school capacity, while others cite the effects of recent restrictions on their communities, including smaller labor pools and reduced tourism revenue.

Recent changes in federal trade policy also trickle down to the local level. Federal tariffs enacted in early 2025 affected prices for goods and services nationwide, with local communities often experiencing these effects as higher costs. Officials note rising prices for municipal needs, including construction materials, vehicles, and public works equipment. 

One council member in Wisconsin linked tariffs to broader cost-of-living pressures, leading some residents to have difficulty "paying for basic needs and other things like local taxes, utilities, etc.”

Local Issues are Still Dominant

While international issues are rising, the data show that local concerns remain the primary focus of policymakers and their constituents. Economy and jobs (93%), public safety (96%), and infrastructure and housing (97%) remain the near-universal topics officials discussed with constituents in 2025, with little change from 2023.

Even as the boundary between “local” and “global” is becoming less distinct, local officials remain focused on governance. As one board member in Maryland put it, “I would much rather work on actual legislation that is going to change things here locally — expanding our social services department, implementing mentorship programs, and creating community liaisons to the city council.”

Survey background

This research brief uses data from a nationally representative survey of local elected policymakers in the U.S. townships, municipalities, and county governments serving communities of 1,000 or more. Elected policymakers include top elected officials (e.g., mayor, county executive) and governing board members (e.g., council member, county legislator). The surveys were fielded from November 2023-March 2024 (n=524) and December 2025-January 2026 (n=604).

Survey text

In your discussions with constituents, how often do the following issues come up? 

Response options: Rarely, if ever; Occasionally; Often

Press Contact

Nathan Lee

Founder, Managing Director

nathanlee@civicpulse.org

Additional Resources

For access to the underlying data for this brief, email us at info@civicpulse.org.