Identity, Ideology, and Strategic Context in Congressional Elections Restricted; Files Only
Snipes, Alexandra (Summer 2026)
Abstract
This dissertation examines how candidate identity, ideology, and electoral context shape candidate emergence, campaign strategy, and electoral outcomes in U.S. congressional elections. I argue that gender-ideology stereotypes, particularly the perception that women are more liberal than men, operate differently across racial identity, district competitiveness, and party, producing divergent pathways to office. Drawing on observational analyses of congressional primary candidates, a regression discontinuity design, and a survey experiment, I show that these effects are far from uniform, varying in consequential ways across party, race, and ideological positioning. Together, these findings emphasize the importance of disaggregating women candidates to uncover how gender, race, party, and ideology interact with political context to shape candidate success.
Table of Contents
Introduction Race-Gender Stereotypes and Primary Elections Gender, Ideology, and General Election Success: Which Women Face a Penalty? Trump in Heels: The Double Bind and Republican Women Candidates Conclusion
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File download under embargo until 20 August 2032 | 2026-06-09 13:30:15 -0400 | File download under embargo until 20 August 2032 |
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