"Challenges Reported by Candidates for Local Office"

Delighted that the research on barriers to running for local political office I conducted with Dr. Peter Levine of Tufts has been published! One key finding from our survey of 2021 candidates: "Various specific social disadvantages were associated with most of the challenges. A significant example is that having been poor during childhood is associated with more than double odds of worrying about one’s qualifications for public office, even after controlling for race, gender, and education. Poverty may create a lasting sense of insecurity."

This is why I launched the New Power Project -- to overcome the barriers to running for office that stem from experiencing poverty in under-resourced communities. If you agree with this mission, please support New Power.