The Wielding Influence of Political Networks: Representation in Majority-Latino Districts. (March 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ocampo, Angela X.
• Is Part Of: Political research quarterly. Volume 71:Number 1(2018:Mar.)
• Page Start: 184
• Page End: 198
• Publication Date: 2018-03
• Subjects: Latina/o candidates -- representation -- majority-minority districts -- political parties -- open-seats; Political science -- Periodicals; Science politique -- Périodiques; 320
• DOI: 10.1177/1065912917727368
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1065-9129

Abstract

Latino-majority congressional districts are far more likely to elect Latino representatives to Congress than majority-white districts. However, not all majority-Latino districts do so. This paper addresses this question, and it investigates how the level of influence of political parties and interest groups in majority-Latino districts substantially shapes Latino representation to the US House of Representatives. I rely on five case studies and a dataset of candidates to open congressional races with a Latino population plurality from 2004 to 2014. The evidence indicates that groups and political networks are critical for Latina/o candidate recruitment, the organization of resources in a congressional district, the deployment of campaign resources on behalf of certain candidates, and the eventual success of Latina/o candidates. The findings suggest that Latino descriptive and substantive representation are shaped by the wielding influence of political parties and interest groups.