One of Our Own: Black Female Candidates and the Voters Who Support Them

Abstract

This article examines the role of race and gender in candidate evaluations. Unlike previous research, we argue that the role of race and gender in electoral politics must be examined simultaneously because of their mutually reinforcing relationship. To do so, we explore the connection between the race and gender of voters and their propensity to support black female candidates. Using precinct-level data, experimental data, and national exit poll data from two congressional election years, we demonstrate that black women are the strongest supporters of black female candidates. We also find that support for black female candidates is contingent on their background and political experience. Black female candidates with significant experience in politics can attract both black and white voters, regardless of gender.

The Intersection of Redistricting, Race, and Participation

“…Despite some disagreement as to how high the black percentage of a district needs to be in order to elect an African American (see the debate between O'Halloran 1999b andLublin 1999), it remains true that most black representatives are elected in majority black districts, or at least majority-minority districts (Grofman 1998;Lublin 1997b;Philpot and Walton 2007). Indeed, 15 of the 20 black incumbents in our data set represented majority-minority districts.…”

Do Muslim voters prefer Muslim candidates? Co-religiosity and voting behaviour in India

“…A number of studies show that visible minorities are more likely to vote for members of their own ethnic or racial group in the US (e.g. Wolfinger, 1965;Bobo and Gilliam, 1990;Collet, 2005;Barreto, 2007;Philpot andWalton 2007, McConnaughy et al, 2010) and in several North European countries (e.g. Teney et al, 2010, Berg andBjoklund 2011).…”

Exit over Voice in Dominican Ethnoracial Politics

“…14 See Sonenshein (1990);Terkildsen (1993); Lublin and Tate (1995); Sigelman et al (1995); Reeves (1997); Voss and Lublin (2001); Tate (2003); Gay (2004); Herron and Sekhon (2005); Philpot and Walton, Jr. (2007).…”