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Ballot Cues, Business Candidates, and Voter Choices in Local Elections.
- Source :
-
American Politics Research . Mar2021, Vol. 49 Issue 2, p186-197. 12p. - Publication Year :
- 2021
-
Abstract
- American voters commonly express abstract support for candidates with a business background, yet there is minimal systematic evidence about whether it advantages candidates in actual electoral contests. We examine this question using observational data, drawing on a California law allowing candidates to designate their occupational background on the ballot, and experimental data. Candidates with a business background are prevalent in California. However, neither of our studies indicate that business candidates enjoy atypical overall electoral success (although Republican leaning constituencies have a notably more favorable view of such candidates). A political background predicts electoral success far more effectively. Further, "small business owners" have more success than other business candidates, suggesting that voters consider the specifics of a candidate's business experience. These results advance our knowledge of decision making in low-information elections, how voters weigh private-sector versus political experience, and how they filter occupational information through a partisan lens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1532673X
- Volume :
- 49
- Issue :
- 2
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- American Politics Research
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 148516805
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1177/1532673X20943559