Electoral Campaigns and Co-Partisan Discrimination

• In Event: Elections and Voting Behavior Virtual Poster Session
  In Virtual Poster Session: Elections and Voting Behavior: Electoral Campaigns, Systems, and Strategy Virtual Poster Session

Abstract

Women are underrepresented in legislative bodies. Scholarly work has shown that both voters and elites are likely responsible for this result. I argue that co-partisans also have a share of responsibility for the low representation of women. More precisely, I theorize that discrimination among co-partisans on the campaign trail is a hurdle that women need to overcome. Using novel observational data on endorsements and candidate-to-candidate donations in Brazil, I find evidence that male colleagues discriminate against their female colleagues. Moreover, with an experimental study, I show that it occurs because female candidates are seen as less viable candidates by their colleagues.

Author

• Patrick Cunha Silva, Washington University in St. Louis