Description
Book SynopsisWhy is it so rare for Black candidates to win elections for governor and U.S. senator? Matthew Tokeshi examines the campaigns of every Black challenger for these offices from 2000 through 2020 and points to the significant effects of racial appeals to white voters.
Trade ReviewIn this ambitious book, Tokeshi masterfully and systematically demonstrates what we intuitively know—Black candidates for statewide office experience a different and more negative campaign environment than their white counterparts. He also offers vital insights on the campaign strategies Black candidates can use to mitigate the effects of negative racial attacks.
Campaigning While Black is a must-read for scholars and students of race and ethnic politics. -- LaFleur Stephens-Dougan, author of
Race to the Bottom: How Racial Appeals Work in American PoliticsTokeshi provides a major contribution to our understanding of when and how racial attacks are effective and what candidates can do about them. The focus on African American women at the state level is new and important to our understanding of the links among race, gender, and state politics. -- Christopher Stout, author of
Bringing Race Back In: Black Politicians, Deracialization, and Voting Behavior in the Age of ObamaTokeshi's book is timely as we think about the future of political representation in the United States. Asking if race is still a hurdle today for Black candidates, Tokeshi finds that Black candidates do not need to remain silent when attacked. This book is a must-read for those interested in race and politics, campaigns, and racial attitudes. -- Andrea Benjamin, author of
Racial Coalition Building in Local Elections: Elite Cues and Cross-Ethnic VotingTable of ContentsAcknowledgments
Introduction
1. Why Are Black Governors and U.S. Senators So Rare? Racial Bias Against Black Challengers, 2000–2020
2. The Racialization of Black Candidates
3. The Response of Black Candidates
4. The Deval Patrick and Harold Ford Jr. Campaigns of 2006
5. The 2013 Cory Booker and 2014 Anthony Brown Campaigns
6. When Black Women Run: The 2018 Stacey Abrams and 2020 Kamala Harris Campaigns
7. The Booker Experiment
8. The Criminal Pardon Experiment
Conclusion
Appendixes
Notes
Index
