Spanish Language Media and Latino Candidate Emergence

• In Event: Can You Hear Me Now? Language Effects in Political Campaigns

Abstract

The relationship between Spanish language media (SLM) and political engagement has attracted considerable scholarly attention. However, whether SLM comes as a benefit or detriment to Latino/a/xs is unclear as recent work has suggested that ethnic media is a source of both mobilization and demobilization. Furthermore, the effects of SLM on political outcomes that extend beyond voting, namely minority candidate emergence and success, remain unexplored. In this study, we investigate whether access to ethnic media motivates Latino/a/x candidate emergence and success. We collect a novel dataset of first air dates for Spanish language media stations across the U.S. and leverage their staggered adoption over time to evaluate their influence on local politics. Preliminary evidence suggests muted effects on the share of city councilors who are Latino/a/x and the number of Latino/a/x candidates running for office, indicating that these stations may not improve descriptive representation despite offering an accessible platform for candidates to broadcast their message and potentially activate ethnic identity among Latino/a/x voters.

Authors

• Jose S Gomez, University of Massachusetts - Boston

• Yamil Velez, Columbia University