A Look Ahead at the 2020 US Elections: The Role of Candidate Diversity in Political Participation

摘要

An increasingly diverse population in the United States has given rise to a growing literature that analyzes the causes and implications of descriptive representation. Our analysis informs this literature with an assessment of how diversity in the candidate pool influences participation, particularly among traditionally less engaged groups of eligible voters, as well as among voters in swing states that can carry an election. We find that diversity promotes the registration and voting of eligible-to-vote individuals, particularly those belonging to the youngest generations of voters and eligible-to-vote individuals in swing states and among growing minorities, as in the case of Hispanic voters. In addition, diversity matters for both minorities and nonminorities. Given the changing demographics of the electorate and the increased expressions of intolerance and hate crimes worldwide, increasing diversity in the candidate pool to better match the composition of the electorate might be crucial in ensuring identification with candidates' stands and electoral engagement.