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Race and Representation in Campaign Finance

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  • GRUMBACH, JACOB M.
  • SAHN, ALEXANDER

Abstract

Racial inequality in voter turnout is well-documented, but we know less about racial inequality in campaign contributions. Using new data on the racial identities of over 27 million donors, we find an unrepresentative contributor class. Black and Latino shares of contributions are smaller than their shares of the population, electorate, and elected offices. However, we argue that the presence of ethnoracial minority candidates mobilizes coethnic donors. Results from regression discontinuity and difference-in-difference designs suggest that the presence of ethnoracial minority candidates increases the share of minority contributions in US House elections. We find a reduction in white contributions to black Democrats, and to black and Latino Republicans, but little difference in overall fundraising competitiveness. Although we cannot definitively rule out alternative mechanisms that covary with candidate ethnorace, the results suggest that the nomination of minority candidates can increase the ethnoracial representativeness of campaign finance without costs to fundraising.

Suggested Citation

  • Grumbach, Jacob M. & Sahn, Alexander, 2020. "Race and Representation in Campaign Finance," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 114(1), pages 206-221, February.
  • Handle: RePEc:cup:apsrev:v:114:y:2020:i:1:p:206-221_14
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    Cited by:

    1. Gregory John Leslie & Natalie Masuoka & Sarah E. Gaither & Jessica D. Remedios & A. Chyei Vinluan, 2022. "Voter Evaluations of Biracial-Identified Political Candidates," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-31, April.
    2. Laurent Bouton & Julia Cagé & Edgard Dewitte & Vincent Pons, 2021. "Small Campaign Donors," SciencePo Working papers Main hal-03878175, HAL.
    3. Rebecca Lessem & Sarah Niebler & Carly Urban, 2023. "Do house prices affect campaign contributions?," Economics and Politics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 35(2), pages 629-660, July.
    4. James Rockey & Nadia Zakir, 2021. "Power and the money, money and the power: A network analysis of donations from American corporate to political leaders," Discussion Papers 21-03, Department of Economics, University of Birmingham.
    5. Nicolas Gavoille, 2021. "Pay for politicians and campaign spending: evidence from the French municipal elections," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 188(3), pages 455-477, September.

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