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Diversity and Power: Selection Method and Its Impacts on State Executive Descriptive Representation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2021

Sarina Rhinehart Open the ORCID record for Sarina Rhinehart [Opens in a new window]  and
Matthew J. Geras
Sarina Rhinehart*
Affiliation:
The University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA
Matthew J. Geras
Affiliation:
The University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, USA
*
Sarina Rhinehart, The Carl Albert Congressional Research and Studies Center, The University of Oklahoma, 630 Parrington Oval, Room 101, Norman, OK 73019, USA. Email: rhinehart@ou.edu
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Abstract

This article explores diversity within top leadership positions in state governments, specifically, the role that position selection method plays in promoting the inclusion of racial and ethnic minorities into positions of power. We hypothesize that minorities will be more likely to serve in appointed positions as governors consider diversity in making appointments and less likely to serve in elected positions due to the additional hurdles for candidates of color. Using an original data set of state executive leaders from 2001 to 2017 from all 50 states, we find evidence that institutional design influences levels of diversity among state executive leaders. Racial and ethnic minorities are more likely to be appointed than elected to state executive leadership positions. In addition, we find that Democratic governors are more likely than Republican governors to appoint minorities. Ultimately, this evidence is important for understanding how institutional design can have consequences for descriptive representation, specifically for groups that have been historically excluded from political life.

Keywords

representationrace and politicsstate governmentappointmentselections
Type
Research Article
Information
State Politics & Policy Quarterly , Volume 20 , Issue 2 , June 2020 , pp. 213 - 233
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s) 2019

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