Latina Electability: Candidate Evaluations of Latinas Seeking State Level Offices

• In Event: Poster Session: Women and Politics Research I

Abstract

Despite the record number of women who ran and won their elections during the 2018 midterms more work to increase the number of women of color elected officials at all levels of government is necessary. The small cannon of work in Women in Politics that analyzes female candidates and elected officials of color has demonstrated that voters do not think of White women and non-white women in the same way. After Clinton’s second loss in 2016 it once again became evident that voters do rely on information shortcuts such as gender stereotypes when it comes to political candidates they have to choose between. The stereotypes that are conjured up in the mind of the voter vary and for women of color like Latinas it is not always clear if these perceptions are about her as a female political candidate or if they are rooted in how people stereotype her larger ethnic group. Furthermore, the reality that Latina candidates have to contend with is that as a non-white woman running for office voter evaluations of them will most likely be based not just on their gender but also their ethnicity. It is possible that this process of stereotyping on both dimensions of gender and ethnicity is further exacerbated because voters are being faced with the candidacy of those who they consider to be non-traditional aspirants to political office. These stereotypes are important to understand because they influence the character traits Latina candidates are ascribed and thus the policy issues they are thought competent in handling.

Consequently, in this project with the use of an experimental survey fielded in the summer of 2018 I analyze how a Latina candidate running for state assembly, who is non-White, is stereotyped by potential voters. In other words, when voters are presented with a candidate who is both a woman and of Latino ethnicity the question that surfaces is what effects does the intersection of her gender and ethnicity have on her candidacy as it relates to the character traits she is ascribed, and the policy issues she is perceived as competent in handling? Additionally, through the use of racial resentment questions I analyze if there is any hostility towards Latina candidates from those respondents who stereotype her negatively. While this may seem like a logical relationship the reality is that it has not been empirically tested and at best the evidence we have is anecdotal.

These points of inquiry are of value in the ever-growing body of scholarship on women in politics because it continues to be an unexplored area despite the fact that more Latinas are seeking political office, (e.g. the 2018 midterm elections). My findings provide various points of electoral insight. First, I explore and compare voters’ assessments between the Latina candidate and an opponent who will differ from her either on the dimension of race/ethnicity, of gender, or both. Thus, allowing me to provide some clarity regarding how gender and ethnicity intersect for Latinas seeking office. Additionally, I also consider possible hostile and resentful feelings towards the Latina/o community to better understand if and how this influences negative stereotyping. Lastly, and most importantly I am able to provide insight into what might be some political strengths that a Latina candidate possesses based on the character traits, and policy issue competencies she is ascribed. In understanding the character traits voters attribute to her as well as the policy issues she is thought to be competent in, it will be possible to more acutely examine how Latina candidates can progress towards success in the country’s electoral landscape.

Author

• Ivy A.M. Cargile, California State University, Bakersfield