"As for the American election – well, I am disenfranchised. I cannot vote in the United States."

Assuming you have a Green Card, you should be able to obtain citizenship and vote in the 2020 election.  Green Card in 2014 + 5 years continuous residence = 2019, can applu in time to vote in 2020.

If you don't have a Green Card but are on a renewing work permit, your "permanent" job is at the whim of the U.S. government, who does not care if you have tenure. President Trump may create jobs for PhDs with U.S. citizenship by denying renewals to academics who only have work permits.