The Effect of Candidate Race on Federal Campaign Contributions
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Date
2014
Authors
Singer, David
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Description
Campaign financing is important for federal election candidates to succeed. I will research whether a candidate’s race has an effect on the amount of money he or she can fundraise. I analyze data from all federal elections between 2010 and 2014 using an OLS regression. My data is from the Federal Elections Commission for campaign contribution data. I test the data to how much of an impact candidate race has on the funds candidates raise. I also observe if there is a difference in a minority candidate’s ability to fundraise based on their party affiliation. I expected the data to show that white candidates will fundraise, on average, more than minority candidates, and that minority Democrat candidates fundraise more than minority Republican candidates, but was proved wrong on both accounts. This research is important because a conclusion from the data analysis may give political party leaders a reason to approach nominations differently.