Ukrainian Americans will have an opportunity to learn where candidates running for Congress in 2026 stand on continued U.S. support for Ukraine, the future of Ukrainian refugees in America, and support for Ukrainian-American businesses. Ukrainian Owned, a U.S.-based nonprofit organization, has launched a nationwide initiative aimed at making candidates’ positions on issues important to the Ukrainian American community more accessible to voters.
The project, 2026 Elections: Ukrainian American Voter Initiative, covers more than 1,000 candidates across 44 states. Organizers have already received hundreds of responses and are publishing them on a dedicated website: election2026.info.
Unlike general campaign statements, the initiative asks candidates to address specific issues that directly affect Ukrainians living in the United States and their families back home.
TPS, Immigration Status and Work Authorization
One of the most important issues for the Ukrainian American community is the future of Ukrainians currently living in the United States under Temporary Protected Status (TPS).
Candidates are asked whether they support extending TPS for Ukrainians in light of the ongoing war and dangerous conditions in Ukraine. They are also asked to address the possibility of creating a pathway to permanent legal status for Ukrainians who entered the United States lawfully and have established their lives here.
Other questions concern timely work permit processing and the recognition of professional qualifications earned outside the United States.
These issues have practical implications for thousands of Ukrainian families who sought refuge in America after Russia’s full-scale invasion, where they are now working, paying taxes and trying to build new lives.
Will Washington Continue Supporting Ukraine?
The second major section focuses on U.S. policy toward Ukraine.
Candidates are asked whether they support continued American military assistance to Kyiv, including air defense systems, weapons, ammunition and intelligence sharing.
The questionnaire also addresses maintaining and strengthening sanctions against Russia, potentially using frozen Russian sovereign assets for Ukraine’s reconstruction under applicable law, and continuing economic and humanitarian assistance to the country.
For Ukrainians in America, these are not simply foreign policy questions. The positions of future members of Congress could directly affect the level of U.S. support for Ukraine and its ability to defend itself against Russian aggression.
Supporting Ukrainian-American Businesses
The third area focuses on entrepreneurship. Organizers want to know whether candidates support expanding small businesses’ access to federal funding, reducing tax and regulatory barriers, and helping immigrant-founded companies compete for government contracts.
Particular attention is given to entrepreneurs of Ukrainian descent and businesses that contribute to the economies of American cities and states.
How the Initiative Started
Today, close to two million Americans of Ukrainian descent live in the United States. The project began with a survey of members of the Ukrainian American community. The results helped organizers identify the issues they consider most important to the diaspora. Volunteers subsequently contacted candidates running for the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, inviting them to respond to the questionnaire.
Participation is voluntary. Candidates from all political parties are welcome to respond. Their answers are published verbatim, without editorial changes. Organizers emphasize that the initiative does not endorse individual candidates or recommend whom voters should support.
Why This Matters to Ukrainians in America
For the Ukrainian diaspora, U.S. elections provide an opportunity to influence not only domestic policies in the country where they live but also decisions that may shape Ukraine’s future.
Congress makes decisions involving federal funding, military assistance, sanctions and immigration legislation. Candidates’ positions on these issues can therefore have a direct impact on Ukrainian families, entrepreneurs, refugees and everyone concerned about continued support for Ukraine.
Voters can review candidates’ responses, compare their positions and use the information when making decisions ahead of the 2026 elections.
The project is organized by Ukrainian Owned, founded by entrepreneur Alex Gott.
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