The ۲۰۲۵ Polish presidential election saw record-breaking participation from the Polish diaspora in the United States, reflecting both political engagement and the growing influence of overseas voters on national politics. With nearly ۵۰,۰۰۰ valid votes cast in the U.S. alone, the Polish-American community played a notable role in shaping the narrative of the election’s second round.
According to official data from the Polish National Electoral Commission (Państwowa Komisja Wyborcza), Karol Nawrocki, the conservative candidate supported by the Law and Justice Party (Prawo i Sprawiedliwość, PiS), secured approximately ۵۶.۶۵% of the votes from Polish citizens living in the United States. His main opponent, Rafał Trzaskowski, representing the Civic Platform (Platforma Obywatelska), received ۴۳.۳۵% of the votes.
These results underline a general trend observed in previous elections—Polonia in the U.S. tends to favor conservative and nationalist candidates. Nawrocki’s strong performance may be attributed to shared traditional values, religious conservatism, and a cautious stance on European Union policies, which resonate with many older-generation Polish immigrants in the U.S.
The ۲۰۲۵ election saw a record-high voter turnout among Polish-Americans. More than ۴۹,۸۶۵ valid votes were cast across the United States, surpassing the previous record from the ۲۰۲۳ elections, when around ۴۳,۶۰۰ ballots were submitted. This surge in participation reflects both the increasing accessibility of the voting process for expatriates and the heightened political polarization in Poland, which has reached the diaspora as well.
There were notable regional differences in voting behavior within the U.S. diaspora. In Chicago, home to one of the largest Polish communities outside of Poland, Karol Nawrocki dominated the vote, continuing the city’s long-standing trend of conservative support. In contrast, Rafał Trzaskowski performed better in liberal-leaning cities such as San Francisco and parts of New York, suggesting that younger or more globally integrated Polish-Americans tend to support pro-European and progressive candidates.
Karol Nawrocki’s campaign appealed to themes of national sovereignty, patriotism, and preserving traditional Polish identity. These messages resonate strongly with older generations of Polish immigrants, many of whom left Poland during times of political turmoil and view PiS as a defender of national integrity.
On the other hand, Rafał Trzaskowski’s pro-European platform attracted voters who see Poland’s future as closely tied to the EU and international cooperation. His relatively stronger showing in Western European countries and parts of the U.S. with a younger Polish demographic reflects this ideological divide.
The ۲۰۲۵ presidential election once again highlighted the political influence and diversity of the Polish-American diaspora. While the majority supported the conservative candidate Karol Nawrocki, the significant vote share received by Trzaskowski indicates a growing ideological plurality among Polonia. As the Polish diaspora continues to grow and evolve, its political leanings may become increasingly complex, playing a crucial role in shaping future elections in Poland.
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