Mr. Rossi, Mr. Hu and politics. The role of immigration in shaping natives' voting behavior

•We study the effect of immigration in shaping native's voting behavior using Italian municipality-level data•We find that immigration generates a sizable causal increase in votes for the centre-right coalition on national elections•The effect is heterogeneous across municipalities with different sizes•The relationship between immigration and electoral gains percolates to mayoral election at the municipality level•Cultural diversity, competition in the labor market and for public services are the most relevant channels at work

Using Italian municipality-level data on national elections and IV estimation strategy, we find that immigration generates a sizable causal increase in votes for the center-right coalition, which has a political platform less favorable to immigrants. Additional findings are: (i) the effect is heterogeneous across municipalities with different sizes; (ii) the gain in votes for the center-right coalition corresponds to a loss of votes for the center and center-left parties, a decrease in voter turnout, and a rise in protest votes; (iii) the relationship between immigration and electoral gains percolates to mayoral election at the municipality level; (iv) cultural diversity, competition in the labor market and for public services, and political competition are the most relevant channels at work.