Super-Predator Effect: How Claims of Party Racism Demobilize Blacks and Latinos

• In Event: Race, Class and Migration

Abstract

"In this study, we explore whether blacks and Latinos alter their political preferences and behaviors when the political party they identify with is accused of racial biases. We expect that claims of racism within racial/ethnic minorities’ preferred political party will dampen enthusiasm for Democrats/Republicans and lead to lower levels of voter turnout. However, we argue that this demobilization effect may be counteracted by presenting evidence of racial/ethnic diversity within the political party. We test our hypothesis using a large sample of black and Latino voters and a survey experiment administered on both Mturk and YouGov. Preliminary results demonstrate that when confronted with claims of racism, primarily in the Democratic Party, blacks and Latinos rate the party more poorly and are less likely to express enthusiasm to vote in 2020. This relationship disappears when respondents are presented with evidence that racial/ethnic minority candidates are being considered for leadership positions. The results are significant given Donald Trumps' 2016 campaigns strategy to emphasize Hilary Clinton's use of racial charged language and efforts by Russia to demobilize racial/ethnic minorities by painting the Democratic Party as racially insensitive."

Authors

• Christopher T. Stout, Oregon State University

• Keith Baker, The College at Brockport