Research Scholars Seminar Series

  • January 31, 2023
  • 3:00 PM - 4:00 CST
  • WEBINAR
  • SAMANTHA BYNUM, sbynum1@luc.edu
  • Open to the public.
  • https://luc.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_8FEHdMWaSdyJfiZTib3_ig
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  • Details

    Dr. David Doherty, PhD
    Title: Party People and the Making of Politicians
    One of the factors that appears to play a substantial role in an individual's decision to run for office is whether anyone has encouraged them to run. This should not surprise us: running for office is a costly and complex enterprise! In many areas, local parties serve as political hubs that engage residents in political action and crucially recruit individuals to run for office and help them to do so.

    This lecture will present evidence from a national survey of local party chairpersons, as well as dozens of in-depth interviews with chairs. The first portion will focus on who these local party officials are and how they make politicians by recruiting and supporting promising prospective candidates. The second portion will focus on what our survey and interviews tell us about what characteristics chairs believe contribute to candidates¿ viability in their area. Do they view women candidates as more or less likely to win? How important is it for a candidate to have deep roots in the community?