Descriptive Diversity and Government Legitimacy: White and POC Voters' Reactions to POC Representation

Awarded Scholars:
Anna Mikkelborg, Colorado State University, Fort Collins
Project Date:
Mar 2025

Past research has found that voters prefer politicians who look like them. However, recent studies suggest that White Democrats now tend to prefer politicians of color, whereas White Republicans continue to lean towards White representatives. Political scientist Anna Mikkelborg will examine how perceptions of Black government representation influence White voters' beliefs about government legitimacy. She will conduct a series of public opinion surveys for her study.

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