Executive Summary
In this companion report to our study of gubernatorial elections, we analyze gender and campaign finance for statewide elective executive offices. Our analysis examines individual contributions to mixed-gender primary contests without incumbents for Attorney General, Secretary of State, and Treasurer as well as mixed-gender general election contests for all statewide executive offices (other than Governor and Lt. Governor). We investigate donor gender and candidate gender in our analysis of individual contributions from 2001 to 2020. This report is made possible through a collaboration between OpenSecrets and the Center for American Women and Politics (CAWP).
1. Men’s giving in statewide executive elections exceeds women’s giving.
More men than women donated to general election candidates for statewide executive offices (2001- 2020). The total amount contributed by men also exceeded the total amount contributed by women. Thus, despite the fact that women turn out to vote at higher rates than men, women trail men as donors. This finding is consistent with our previous research on races for governor.
Men’s giving to attorney general, secretary of state, and treasurer primary election contests without an incumbent also exceeded women’s giving in the number of contributors and the total amount of contributions (2001-2020).
These findings about women’s underrepresentation as donors holds for the most recent election cycle (2017-2020).
2. Candidate party and candidate gender shape women’s and men’s contribution decisions.
Women are more likely to give to Democratic statewide executive candidates than Republican candidates. Nevertheless, men’s total contributions to Democratic candidates exceeds women’s total contributions.
Women are better represented as donors to statewide executive women candidates than to men candidates within both parties.
In the most recent cycle (2017-2020), women made up nearly half of donors to Democratic candidates in mixed-gender general election races.
3. Men outnumber women as statewide executive candidates and officeholders.
Women are underrepresented as statewide executive candidates and officeholders. This is especially true for Black women, Latinas, Asian American women, and Native American women.
The dramatic underrepresentation of women of color as statewide executives stands in contrast to their representation in Congress, where they have achieved more success.
4. The amount of money raised and the structure of campaign receipts are related to the gender and race/ ethnicity of statewide executive candidates.
Women of color statewide executive candidates are much less likely to enter contests for statewide executive offices than white women. They also raise less on average than white women candidates. These findings underscore the importance and need for more resources directed to a wider range of women candidates.
Women and men statewide executive candidates are usually raising similar amounts in similar races. However, gender differences in the structure of receipts suggest areas of greater challenge for women candidates. For example, men candidates are financing their own campaigns to a larger extent than women. In addition, women candidates usually rely more on small contributions than men, which may make fundraising more difficult for women.
About the Center for American Women and Politics
The Center for American Women and Politics (CAWP), a unit of the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, is nationally recognized as the leading source of scholarly research and current data about women’s political participation in the United States. Its mission is to promote greater knowledge and understanding about the role of women in American politics, enhance women’s influence in public life, and expand the diversity of women in politics and government. Learn more at cawp.rutgers.edu.
About the Eagleton Institute of Politics
The Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University—New Brunswick studies how American politics and government work and change, analyzes how the democracy might improve, and promotes political participation and civic engagement. The Institute explores state and national politics through research, education, and public service, linking the study of politics with its day-to-day practice. To learn more about Eagleton programs and expertise, visit eagleton.rutgers.edu.
Acknowledgements
CAWP thanks the generous support of Pivotal Ventures for making this research possible. Pivotal Ventures is an investment and incubation company founded by Melinda French Gates. This report is made possible through a collaboration between OpenSecrets and CAWP. We are grateful to the staff of OpenSecrets for their assistance with this report. We thank Debbie Walsh, Kelly Dittmar, and Daniel De Simone for their comments, and CAWP’s data services manager, Chelsea Hill for maintaining CAWP’s candidate database. Data on campaign donations used in this report is provided by OpenSecrets.