Immigration

Birthright citizenship

11 public statements from 2026 candidates

§1The range of views

Why this matters: Citizens can get a US passport, can't be deported and can vote as adults, so this decides the status of many children born here each year.

Drafted by AI, then checked for neutral wording in a separate AI review. It describes the question and the main positions, not any candidate's view. Facts link to their sources.

Whether children born in the US automatically become citizens when their parents are here without legal permission or only temporarily, such as on a student or tourist visa; in 2026 the Supreme Court ruled that the Constitution makes them citizens, rejecting a 2025 executive order that would have denied them citizenship.1

  1. Keep automatic citizenship for every child born in the US
  2. End it for children of parents here without legal permission, such as by amending the Constitution
  3. End it for children of parents here without legal permission or on temporary visas, such as by amending the Constitution

These options describe policies, not people. The order is not a ranking.

§2What candidates have said

Why this matters: Statements candidates made publicly, summarized in plain words with a link to where they said it. Candidates who haven't spoken publicly on this issue aren't listed.

Drafted by AI from the public sources cited. Each sentence links to its source.

Keep automatic citizenship for every child born in the US (7)

  • Andrew Sneed AL-5
    His campaign website supports legislation to counter the executive order ending birthright citizenship, which it calls unlawful.2
  • Connie Chan CA-11
    Her campaign website says immigration reform should affirm birthright citizenship.3
  • Kelly Thompson IN-3
    Her campaign website says she will defend birthright citizenship and oppose attempts by any president to rewrite the Constitution through executive order.4,5
  • Richard E. Neal MA-1
    His campaign website says he supports birthright citizenship.6
  • Jamie Raskin MD-8
    His campaign website says that when he ran to be Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee he said he would lead Democrats in rebuffing attacks on birthright citizenship, voting rights, immigrant rights and the reproductive freedoms of American women.7
  • Erik Osberg MN-7
    It also says he will oppose efforts that would undermine birthright citizenship.8
  • Maggie Goodlander NH-2
    Her campaign website lists among her accomplishments court filings opposing restrictions on birthright citizenship and defending constitutional citizenship protections.9

Statements that don't match one option (4)

  • Neil J. Gillespie FL Senate special
    In questionnaire answers posted on his campaign site, he says the US must end birth tourism.10
  • Austin Rogers FL-2
    His campaign website says he helped draft the SAFE KIDS Act while working for Senator Rick Scott and will push for it in the House; the site says the bill would stop wealthy Chinese nationals and Chinese Communist Party officials from obtaining U.S. citizenship for children born to American surrogates.11
  • Matt Loesby ID Senate
    His campaign website says he would work to end birthright citizenship by changing naturalization law.12
  • Pro-Life ID Governor
    His campaign website says children born in the US should be citizens only if their parents are US citizens.13