Abstract
Our study, using list experiments from the 2008 and 2012 Cooperative Campaign Analysis Project, examines voter prejudice toward presidential candidates belonging to marginalized groups.
What We Found
- Conservative and Republican respondents were significantly less inclined to support Muslim or gay candidates.
- Liberal and Democratic respondents showed little opposition to female candidates.
- However, a notable asymmetry emerged: Democrats in 2012 displayed substantial discomfort with Mormon candidates, contrasting sharply with their views on African American candidates (per se). Republicans consistently held greater prejudice against both Muslims and gays compared to African Americans.
Methodology
We employed list experiments, an indirect measurement technique designed to capture sensitive preferences without directly asking respondents about controversial topics. This method was applied using data from the Cooperative Campaign Analysis Project datasets collected in 2008 and 2012.
Why It Matters
This research demonstrates that voter prejudice against specific religious groups (Mormons) exists across partisan lines, challenging the notion that such biases are exclusive to conservative ideology. The findings highlight a nuanced asymmetry where both parties exhibit bias, but in distinctive ways regarding different minority groups.
