District Competitiveness and the Nomination of LGBTQ Candidates

• In Event: Queer(ing) Candidates

Abstract

Why are LGBTQ people underrepresented in elected office? This paper considers whether LGBTQ candidates are more likely than their non-LGBTQ counterparts to run in seats where their party is less competitive. This “sacrificial lambs” hypothesis has long roots in scholarship about women in politics. We examine this hypothesis in the case of LGBTQ representation. We use data on LGBTQ candidates from the 2019 Canadian federal election, which saw a record number of out LGBTQ candidates. This wave of new LGBTQ candidates makes it feasible to test quantitatively whether the sacrificial lambs hypothesis applies in the LGBTQ case. The results contribute to debates about the underrepresentation of LGBTQ people and marginalized groups more broadly.

Authors

• Elizabeth Baisley, Queen's University

• Quinn Albaugh, Queen's University