LAUSR

How much can the gap in representation between whites and minorities be explained by campaign financing and party support? Studies have found party support to be a essential in a candidate accessing campaign finance networks critical to a successful candidacy. Using candidate race data at the congressional level along with campaign finance network data, we test whether political parties contribute to racial disparities in the ability of minority candidates to raise money and wage competitive campaigns. We look at the campaign finance networks of minority candidates of all racial groups - black, Latino, and Asian - and compare them to white candidates with comparable candidate qualities. We test whether parties discriminate against minority candidates, whether parties seek to promote minority candidates, and whether parties are strategic in which types of minority candidates they support.