New research challenges conventional wisdom about public campaign finance promoting candidate socioeconomic diversity.
This paper examines state legislative candidates in Connecticut, a state with public financing programs. Instead of diversifying the candidate pool as expected, the study finds that public financing availability actually reduces low socioeconomic status (SES) representation among those running for office.
Data & Methods:
Using occupational data and executing a difference-in-differences analysis comparing two control states.
Key Findings:
- Low SES candidates were less likely to run when public financing was available
- Those who did run using public funds were also less likely to win
- Low SES candidates utilized public financing significantly less often after the programs existed
Why It Matters:
These findings indicate that campaign finance systems must consider unintended consequences on candidate diversity and representation. The results highlight a complex relationship between financial support for campaigns and democratic outcomes.
