When thinking about political ambition, we often focus on elected officials and career politicians.

But what drives politics among everyday Americans?

This study investigates political ambition development across the US population.

Drawing data from representative surveys (N=2500), our analysis reveals a distinct gendered pathway to political aspiration.

Who are the people behind political ambitions?

A candidate may emerge from unexpected places: perhaps from blue-collar work or caregiving roles.

This research examines how different life experiences shape political motivation in men versus women across America.

We find that:

• Working-class backgrounds correlate differently with ambition by gender

• Childcare responsibilities appear to moderate political engagement pathways

• Implicit role models vary significantly between male and female participants

• Educational trajectories yield divergent outcomes for aspiring politicians

These findings reshape our understanding of how ordinary citizens develop political interests.

This has profound implications for theories about descriptive representation and democratic participation gaps.