Op-Eds

2026

• William H. Frey An immigration slowdown led to widespread declines in population growth in America’s major metro areas Op-Ed April 21, 2026
• William H. Frey, Joseph Parilla and Tonantzin Carmona Immigration: good or bad for American prosperity (video) Op-Ed April 13, 2026
• William H. Frey Reduced immigration slowed population growth for the nation and most states, new census data show Op-Ed February 11, 2026
• Research Baby boomers are turning 80 A closer look at the generation that reshaped America William H. Frey Baby boomers are turning 80 Op-Ed January 07, 2026

2025

• William H. Frey Growing diverse and immigrant populations drove the nation’s post-pandemic demographic rebound, new census data show Op-Ed July 31, 2025
• William H. Frey Recent immigration brought a population rebound to America’s major metro areas, new census data show Op-Ed April 10, 2025
• William H. Frey Will Trump’s inaugural address recognize America’s key demographic shifts? Op-Ed January 17, 2025

2024

• Xavier de Souza Briggs, Manann Donoghoe, William H. Frey, Annelies Goger, Joseph W. Kane, Farah Khan, Molly Kinder, Tracy Hadden Loh, Hanna Love, Robert Maxim, Mark Muro, Joseph Parilla, Andre M. Perry, Robert Puentes, Martha Ross, and Adie Tomer What’s in store for cities and metropolitan areas across the nation in President Trump’s second term in the White House? Op-Ed December 02, 2024
• William H. Frey Trump gained some minority voters, but the GOP is hardly a multiracial coalition Op-Ed November 12, 2024
• William H. Frey Kamala Harris’ chances in November could hinge on a women’s voting surge Op-Ed August 05, 2024
• William H. Frey Census shows America’s post-2020 population is driven by diversity especially among the young Op-Ed July 24, 2024
• William H. Frey Census shows big city population improvements, countering predictions of the ‘urban doom loop’ Op-Ed June 06, 2024
• William H. Frey, Chiraag Bains, Andre M. Perry, Robert Maxim, Manann Donoghoe, and Carol Graham Around the halls: Brookings scholars discuss a much-needed revision to America’s diversity data Op-Ed May 07, 2024
• William H. Frey New census projections show immigration is essential to the growth and vitality of a more diverse US population Op-Ed May 01, 2024
• William H Frey New census data hints at an urban population revival, assisted by immigration Op-Ed April 15, 2024
• William H. Frey Immigration is driving the nation’s modest post-pandemic population growth, new census data shows Op-Ed January 04, 2024
• William H. Frey Immigration is driving the nation’s modest post-pandemic population growth, new census data shows Op-Ed January 04, 2024

2023

• William H. Frey. New 2020 census data shows an aging America and wide racial gaps between generations Op-Ed Brookings Institution August 01, 2023
• William H. Frey. Big cities are showing signs of recovery after historic population losses, new census data shows Op-Ed Brookings Institution June 22, 2023
• William H. Frey. New voter turnout data from 2022 shows some surprises, including lower turnout for youth, women, and Black Americans in some states Op-Ed Brookings Institution May 18, 2023
• William H. Frey. Pandemic-driven population declines in large urban areas are slowing or reversing, latest census data shows Op-Ed Brookings Institution April 19, 2023
• William H. Frey. Americans’ local migration reached a historic low in 2022, but long-distance moves picked up Op-Ed Brookings Institution February 02, 2023
• William H. Frey. RESEARCH New census estimates show a tepid rise in U.S. population growth, buoyed by immigration Op-Ed Brookings Institution January 04, 2023

2022

• William H. Frey. Midterm exit polls show that young voters drove Democratic resistance to the ‘red wave’ Op-Ed Brookings Institution November 18, 2022
• William H. Frey. Motivated by abortion, women could determine the outcome in Tuesday’s midterm elections Op-Ed Brookings Institution November 04, 2022
• William H. Frey. A ‘New Great Migration’ is bringing Black Americans back to the South Op-Ed Brookings Institution September 12, 2022
• William H. Frey. White and youth population losses contributed most to the nation’s growth slowdown, new census data reveals Op-Ed Brookings Institution August 01, 2022
• William H. Frey. Growth, diversity, segregation, and aging in America’s largest metropolitan areas: A 2020 census portrait Op-Ed Brookings Institution May 13, 2022
• William H. Frey. New census data shows a huge spike in movement out of big metro areas during the pandemic Op-Ed Brookings Institution April 14, 2022
• William H. Frey. Anti-CRT bills are aimed to incite the GOP base—not parents Op-Ed Brookings Institution March 30, 2022

2021

• William H. Frey. U.S. population growth has nearly flatlined, new census data shows Op-Ed Brookings Institution December 23, 2021
• William H. Frey. Despite the pandemic narrative, Americans are moving at historically low rates Op-Ed Brookings Institution November 30, 2021
• William H. Frey. RESEARCH 2020 Census: Big cities grew and became more diverse, especially among their youth Op-Ed Brookings Institution October 28, 2021
• William H. Frey. White decline and increased diversity in America’s aging population Op-Ed Brookings Institution October 01, 2021
• William H. Frey. RESEARCH Mapping America’s diversity with the 2020 census Op-Ed Brookings Institution September 21, 2021
• William H. Frey. America’s shrinking white population needs to value youthful diversity Op-Ed Brookings Institution September 09, 2021
• William H. Frey. RESEARCH New 2020 census results show increased diversity countering decade-long declines in America’s white and youth populations Op-Ed Brookings Institution August 13, 2021
• William H. Frey. All recent US population growth comes from people of color, new census estimates show Op-Ed Brookings Institution June 23, 2021

2020

• William H. Frey. Now, more than half of Americans are millennials or younger Op-Ed Brookings Institution July 30, 2020
• William H. Frey. A roaring Sun Belt surge has inverted the demographics and politics of COVID-19 Op-Ed Brookings Institution July 02, 2020
• William H. Frey. The nation is diversifying even faster than predicted, according to new census data Op-Ed Brookings Institution July 01, 2020
• William H. Frey. The nation’s racial justice protests are a pivotal moment for millennials and Gen Z Op-Ed Brookings Institution June 09, 2020
• William H. Frey. Mapping COVID-19’s spread from blue to red America Op-Ed Brookings Institution June 03, 2020
• William H. Frey. William Frey says Gen Z will put more attention on racial injustice Op-Ed Quartz June 01, 2020
• William H. Frey. American cities saw uneven growth last decade, new census data show Op-Ed Brookings Institution May 26, 2020
• William H. Frey. COVID-19 continues spreading into counties with strong Trump support Op-Ed Brookings Institution May 17, 2020
• William H. Frey. Demography as Destiny Op-Ed Milken Institute Review April 30, 2020
• William H. Frey. COVID-19 is expanding further into Trump country Op-Ed Brookings Institution April 29, 2020
• William H. Frey. COVID-19’s recent spread shifts to suburban, whiter, and more Republican-leaning areas Op-Ed Brookings Institution April 22, 2020
• William H. Frey, Mark Muro, Tracy Hadden Loh, Martha Ross, Jenny Schuetz, Annelies Goger, Nicole Bateman, Joseph Parilla, Sifan Liu, and Adie Tomer. How COVID-19 will change the nation’s long-term economic trends, according to Brookings Metro scholars Op-Ed Brookings Institution April 14, 2020
• William H. Frey. Who lives in the places where coronavirus is hitting the hardest? Op-Ed Brookings Institution April 10, 2020
• William H. Frey. Even before coronavirus, census shows U.S. cities’ growth was stagnating Op-Ed Brookings Institution April 06, 2020
• William H. Frey. Census Day is here. How is our nation changing? Op-Ed Brookings Institution March 31, 2020
• William H. Frey. Even as metropolitan areas diversify, white Americans still live in mostly white neighborhoods Op-Ed Brookings Institution March 23, 2020
• William H. Frey. Super Tuesday’s demographic diversity will finally test Democratic candidates’ viability Op-Ed Brookings Institution February 28, 2020
• William H. Frey. Reducing immigration will not stop America’s rising diversity, Census projections show Op-Ed Brookings Institution February 19, 2020
• William H. Frey. Just how demographically skewed are the early Democratic primary states? Op-Ed Brookings Institution January 30, 2020
• William H. Frey. The 2020s can end America’s generational divide in politics Op-Ed Brookings Institution January 28, 2020
• William H. Frey. 2020 trends to watch: Policy issues to watch in 2020 Op-Ed Brookings Institution January 07, 2020
• William H. Frey. The 2010s may have seen the slowest population growth in U.S. history, census data show Op-Ed Brookings Institution January 02, 2020

2019

• William Frey. For the first time on record, fewer than 10% of Americans moved in a year Op-Ed Brookings Institution November 22, 2019
• William H. Frey. This week’s election and last year’s midterms bear good news for Democrats in 2020 Op-Ed Brookings Institution November 07, 2019
• William H. Frey. US foreign-born gains are smallest in a decade, except in Trump states Op-Ed Brookings Institution October 02, 2019
• William Frey. Six maps that reveal America’s expanding racial diversity Op-Ed Brookings Institution September 05, 2019
• William H. Frey. America wins as Trump abandons the citizenship question from the 2020 Census Op-Ed Brookings Institution July 12, 2019
• William H. Frey. Trump puts the census citizenship question back in play Op-Ed Brookings Institution July 09, 2019
• William H. Frey. The citizenship question is off the census. Who wins? Op-Ed Brookings Institution July 03, 2019
• William H. Frey. Making America White Again Op-Ed The Washington Post June 27, 2019
• William H. Frey. Less than half of US children under 15 are white, census shows Op-Ed Brookings Institution June 24, 2019
• William H. Frey. Big city growth stalls further, as the suburbs make a comeback Op-Ed Brookings Institution May 24, 2019
• William H. Frey. 2018 Voter turnout rose dramatically for groups favoring Democrats, census confirms Op-Ed Brookings Institution May 02, 2019
• William H. Frey. As Americans spread out, immigration plays a crucial role in local population growth Op-Ed Brookings Institution April 22, 2019
• William H. Frey. America is not full. Its future rests with young immigrants Op-Ed Brookings Institution April 10, 2019
• William H. Frey. In selecting Milwaukee for their 2020 convention, Democrats embrace their demographic past Op-Ed Brookings Institution March 12, 2019
• William H. Frey. A vast majority of counties showed increased Democratic support in 2018 House election Op-Ed Brookings Institution March 04, 2019
• William H. Frey. Trump’s wall will not prevent America’s diversity boom Op-Ed Brookings Institution February 15, 2019
• William H. Frey. How migration of millennials and seniors has shifted since the Great Recession Op-Ed Brookings Institution January 31, 2019
• William H. Frey. Ruling on citizenship question may save the 2020 census Op-Ed Brookings Institution January 15, 2019
• William H. Frey. It’s 2019. Do You Know Where the Kids Went? Op-Ed Milken Institute Review January 08, 2019

2018

• William H. Frey. US population growth hits 80-year low, capping off a year of demographic stagnation Op-Ed Brookings Institution December 21, 2018
• William H. Frey. Black-white segregation edges downward since 2000, census shows Op-Ed Brookings Institution December 17, 2018
• William H. Frey. 2018 exit polls show greater white support for Democrats Op-Ed Brookings Institution November 08, 2018
• William H. Frey. Will minority and female turnout surges seal Democratic midterm victories? Op-Ed Brookings Institution October 31, 2018
• William H. Frey. Trump Can’t Win the War on Demography Op-Ed The New York Times Magazine September 30, 2018
• William H. Frey. 21st century immigration favors Asians and college grads as the US foreign-born share rises Op-Ed Brookings Institute September 28, 2018
• William H. Frey. Charlottesville, demographic change, and misplaced white anxiety Op-Ed Brookings Institution August 03, 2018
• William H. Frey. Minority youth will keep America great, white anxiety will not Op-Ed San Francisco Chronicle July 31, 2018
• William H. Frey. US white population declines and Generation ‘Z-Plus’ is minority white, census shows Op-Ed Brookings Institution June 22, 2018
• William H. Frey. Early decade big city growth continues to fall off, census shows Op-Ed Brookings Institution May 29, 2018
• William H. Frey. These Are the Groups Most Likely to Stop Participating in the U.S. Census Op-Ed Fortune March 29, 2018
• William H. Frey. US population disperses to suburbs, exurbs, rural areas, and “middle of the country” metros Op-Ed Brookings Institution March 26, 2018
• William H. Frey. The U.S. will become “minority white” in 2045, Census projects Op-Ed Brookings Institution March 14, 2018
• William H. Frey. Millennial growth and “footprints” are greatest in the South and West Op-Ed Brookings Institution March 06, 2018
• William H. Frey. The post-millennial movement against gun violence could solidify long-term Democratic support Op-Ed Brookings Institution February 27, 2018
• William H. Frey. Minorities are the demographic engine of millennial urban growth Op-Ed Brookings Institution February 21, 2018
• William H. Frey. Where do the most educated millennials live? Op-Ed Brookings Institution February 07, 2018
• William H. Frey. Can Millennials Make American’s Whole? Op-Ed Los Angeles Times February 04, 2018

2017

• William H. Frey. Sun Belt Population Growth Hts Modest Snag, Census Data Show Op-Ed Brookings Institution December 22, 2017
• William H. Frey. US Migration Still at Historically Low Levels Census Show Op-Ed Brookings Institution November 20, 2017
• William H. Frey. Recent foreign-born growth counters Trump’s immigration stereotypes Op-Ed The Brookings Institution October 02, 2017
• William H. Frey. Trump Country Op-Ed Milken Institute Review August 04, 2017
• William H. Frey. How young Americans are set to change the US forever Op-Ed BBC News July 17, 2017
• William H. Frey . Census shows nonmetropolitan America is whiter, getting older, and losing population Op-Ed The Brookings Institution June 27, 2017
• William H. Frey. City growth dips below suburban growth, Census shows Op-Ed Brookings Institution May 30, 2017
• William H. Frey. Race, American Identity and the Census Op-Ed Brookings Institution May 24, 2017
• William H. Frey. Census shows pervasive decline in 2016 minority voter turnout Op-Ed Brookings Institution May 18, 2017
• William H. Frey. Where immigrant growth matters most Op-Ed The Brookings Institution May 02, 2017
• William H. Frey. Census shows a revival of pre-recession migration flows Op-Ed The Brookings Institution March 30, 2017
• William H. Frey. A substantial majority of Americans live outside Trump counties, census shows Op-Ed Brookings Institution March 23, 2017
• William H. Frey. Trump’s early actions will widen America’s political demographic divide Op-Ed Brookings Institution February 10, 2017
• William H. Frey. It’s America’s minority youth that deserve both parties’ attention Op-Ed Brookings Institution January 05, 2017

2016

• William H. Frey. U.S. growth rate hits new low as migration to the Sun Belt continues Op-Ed Brookings Institution December 23, 2016
• William H. Frey. White neighborhoods get modestly more diverse, new census data show Op-Ed Brookings Institution December 13, 2016
• William H. Frey. The demographic blowback that elected Donald Trump Op-Ed Brookings Institution November 10, 2016
• William H. Frey. Can White Blue-Collar Workers Give Trump a Victory? Op-Ed Newsweek November 04, 2016
• William H. Frey. Diversity is a reason for optimism Op-Ed The Brookings Institution October 24, 2016
• William H. Frey. The power of the educated white female vote in election 2016 Op-Ed Brookings Institution October 18, 2016
• Alison Burke. How minority voters could swing the 2016 presidential election Op-Ed Brookings Institution October 05, 2016
• William H. Frey. The role of minority voters in the 2016 election Op-Ed The Brookings Institution September 14, 2016
• William H. Frey. Educated white women could trigger a decisive Trump defeat Op-Ed Brookings Institution August 16, 2016
• William H. Frey. Metropolitan Lens: America’s racial generation gap and the 2016 election Op-Ed Brookings Institution July 26, 2016
• William H. Frey. Convention cities make exemplary stages to discuss America’s racial divide Op-Ed Brookings Institution July 12, 2016
• William H. Frey. The force of demography on presidential elections from 2016 to 2032 Op-Ed Brookings Institution June 29, 2016
• William H. Frey. Diversity defines the millennial generation Op-Ed Brookings Institution June 28, 2016
• William H. Frey. Mid-decade, big city growth continues Op-Ed The Brookings Institution May 23, 2016
• William H. Frey. Women could make a big difference in a Clinton-Trump match-up Op-Ed Brookings Institution April 29, 2016
• William H. Frey. Migration to Sun Belt metro areas continues to surge Op-Ed Brookings Institution March 31, 2016
• William H. Frey. Diversity is an opportunity, not a threat, for America Op-Ed CNN March 29, 2016
• William H. Frey. Can Trump push Arizona to the Democrats? Op-Ed Brookings Institution March 21, 2016
• William H. Frey. Can Trump Win in November? Op-Ed Brookings Institution March 02, 2016
• William H. Frey. How unrepresentative are the early presidential primary states? Op-Ed Brookings Institution February 03, 2016
• William H. Frey. Boomers at 70 will change America — again Op-Ed USA Today January 26, 2016
• William H. Frey. Sun Belt Migration Reviving, New Census Data Show Op-Ed Brookings Institution January 04, 2016
• William H. Frey. Demography and Destination Op-Ed The Economist January 01, 2016

2015

• William H. Frey. The new racial generation gap Op-Ed Los Angeles Times December 29, 2015
• William H. Frey. One (mostly white, older) person, one vote Op-Ed The Washington Post December 22, 2015
• William H. Frey. Voter Suppression Laws Won’t Work for Long Op-Ed Newsweek August 03, 2015
• William H. Frey. Stop laughing at Donald Trump Op-Ed The Washington Post July 17, 2015
• William H. Frey. In the U.S., diversity is the new majority Op-Ed Los Angeles Times March 06, 2015

2014

• William H. Frey. Enjoy it While it Lasts! GOP Base is Still White and Aging Op-Ed Salon November 05, 2014
• William H. Frey. Babies and What Demographics Portend Op-Ed National Journal January 08, 2014

2013

• William H. Frey. The Next America: Three Must-Knows Regarding Immigration Op-Ed National Journal January 30, 2013

2012

• William H. Frey. Why Obama Shouldn’t Be Taking the Black Vote for Granted Op-Ed New Republic July 12, 2012
• William H. Frey. New Data on Obama’s Massive Demographic Advantage Op-Ed New Republic July 09, 2012
• William H. Frey. Baby boomers had better embrace change Op-Ed The Washington Post June 08, 2012
• William H. Frey. Why Minorities Will Decide the 2012 Election Op-Ed Brookings Institution May 01, 2012

2011

• William H. Frey. America by the Numbers: A Field Guide to the U.S. Population Op-Ed The New Press September 01, 2011

2010

• William H. Frey. Five myths about the 2010 Census and the U.S. population Op-Ed The Washington Post February 14, 2010

2008

• William H. Frey. Migration to Hot Housing Markets Cool Off Op-Ed Brookings Institution March 21, 2008

2007

• William H. Frey. Housing Bust Shatters State Migration Patterns Op-Ed Brookings Institution December 28, 2007
• William H. Frey. New Orleans, a ‘Whole Other City’? Op-Ed Brookings Institution August 28, 2007
• William H. Frey. America Should Be Economically Strategic About Her Future Op-Ed Brookings Institution May 31, 2007

2006

• William H. Frey. A Country of Newcomers Op-Ed Los Angeles Times October 08, 2006
• William H. Frey. Metropolitan America in the New Century Op-Ed UrbanLand June 01, 2006
• William H. Frey. The Silence Behind the U.S.’s Immigration Impasse Op-Ed Financial Times May 02, 2006
• William H. Frey. The Third California Op-Ed Los Angeles Times January 29, 2006

2005

• William H. Frey. Migrant Policy Could Fracture America Op-Ed Brookings Institution June 09, 2005
• William H. Frey. The Electoral Edge: The Projected Sizes of All State Populations Presage a Challenge for the Democrats Op-Ed Brookings Institution June 05, 2005

2004

• William H. Frey. The Democrats Must Woo New Demographic Op-Ed Financial Times November 04, 2004
• William H. Frey. Older White Vote Still Powerhouse in White House Contest Op-Ed Brookings Institution October 24, 2004

2001

• William H. Frey. A Closer Look at the Melting-Pot Myth Op-Ed Newsday March 16, 2001