Editing Politics of the United States (section)

==== Race and ethnicity ====
[[File:Racial and Ethnic Demographics of the 117th US Congress, House of Representatives.svg|thumb|There are 57 African American members of the US House (blue), 47 Hispanics and Latinos (red), 5 Native Americans (yellow), 18 Asian Americans (green), and 314 Whites (gray).[[117th United States Congress|117th Congress]] (2021-2023) ]]
[[File:Racial and Ethnic Demographics of the 117th US Congress, Senate.svg|thumb|There are 3 African American members of the US Senate (blue), 7 Hispanics or Latinos (red), 0 Native Americans, 2 Asian Americans (green), and 88 European Americans(gray). [[117th United States Congress|117th Congress]] (2021-2023)]]

===== African Americans =====
{{See also|African Americans in the United States Congress}}Although African Americans have begun to continually win more elected positions and increase their overall political representation, they still lack proportional representation across a variety of different levels of government.<ref name=":2">{{Cite journal|last=Shah|first=Paru|date=2014|title=It Takes a Black Candidate: A Supply-Side Theory of Minority Representation |journal=Political Research Quarterly|volume=67|issue=2|pages=266–279|doi=10.1177/1065912913498827|jstor=24371782|s2cid=155069482|issn=1065-9129}}</ref> Some estimates indicate that most gains for African Americans—and other minorities in general—have not occurred at higher levels of government, but rather at sub-levels in federal and state governments.<ref name=":2" /> Additionally, congressional data from 2017 revealed that 35.7% of African Americans nationwide had a congressperson of the same race, while the majority of black Americans were represented by members of Congress of a different race.<ref name=":1" /> Scholars have partially explained this discrepancy by focusing on the obstacles that black candidates face. Factors like election type, campaign costs, district demographics, and historical barriers, such as [[Voter suppression in the United States|voter suppression]], can all hinder the likelihood of a black candidate winning an election or even choosing to enter into an election process.<ref name=":2" /> Demographics, in particular, are noted to have a large influence on black candidate success, as research has shown that the ratio of white-to-black voters can have a significant impact on a black candidate's chance of winning an election and that large black populations tend to increase the resources available to African American candidates.<ref name=":2" /> Despite the variety of obstacles that have contributed to the lack of proportional representation for African Americans, other factors have been found to increase the likelihood of a black candidate winning an election. Based on data from a study in [[Louisiana]], prior black incumbency, as well as running for an office that other black candidates had pursued in the past, increased the likelihood of African Americans entering into races and winning elections.<ref name=":2" />

===== Hispanic and Latino Americans =====
{{See also|Hispanic and Latino Americans in politics}}As the most populous minority demographic identified in the 2010 US Census, [[Hispanic and Latino Americans]] have become an increasingly important constituency that is spread throughout the United States.<ref name=":3">{{Cite journal|last=Wallace|first=Sophia J.|date=2014|title=Examining Latino Support for Descriptive Representation: The Role of Identity and Discrimination |journal=Social Science Quarterly|volume=95|issue=2|pages=311–327|doi=10.1111/ssqu.12038|jstor=26612166|issn=0038-4941}}</ref> Despite also constituting 15% of the population in at least a quarter of House districts, Latino representation in Congress has not correspondingly increased.<ref name=":3" /> Furthermore, in 2017, Latino members of Congress only represented about one-quarter of the total Latino population in the US.<ref name=":1" /> While there are many potential explanations for this disparity, including issues related to voter suppression, surveys of Latino voters have identified trends unique to their demographic—though survey data has still indicated that descriptive representation is important to Hispanic and Latino voters.<ref name=":3" /> While descriptive representation may be considered important, an analysis of a 2004 national survey of Latinos revealed that political participation and substantive representation were strongly associated with each other, possibly indicating that voters mobilize more on behalf of candidates whose policy views reflect their own, rather than for those who share their ethnic background.<ref name=":4" /> Moreover, a breakdown of the rationale for emphasizing descriptive representation reveals additional factors behind supporting Latino candidates, such as the view that they may have a greater respect and appreciation for [[Spanish language|Spanish]] or a belief that Latinos are "linked" together, indicating the significance of shared cultural experiences and values.<ref name=":3" /> Although the reasons behind choosing to vote for Latino candidates are not monolithic, the election of Latinos to Congress has been identified as resulting in benefits for minorities overall. While it has been argued that unique district-related issues can take equal or greater precedence than Latino interests for Hispanic and Latino members of Congress, studies have also shown that Latinos are more likely to support African American members of Congress—and vice versa—beyond just what is expected from shared party membership.<ref name=":4" />

===== Native Americans =====
{{See also|Native Americans in United States elections|Native American Politics}}Similar to other minority groups, [[Native Americans in the United States|Native Americans]] often lack representation due to electoral policies. Gerrymandering, in particular, is noted as a method of concentrating Native voters in a limited number of districts to reduce their ability to influence multiple elections.<ref name=":5">{{Cite journal |last1=Schroedel|first1=Jean Reith|last2=Aslanian|first2=Artour|date=2017 |title=A Case Study of Descriptive Representation: The Experience of Native American Elected Officials in South Dakota|journal=American Indian Quarterly |volume=41|issue=3|pages=250–286|doi=10.5250/amerindiquar.41.3.0250|jstor=10.5250/amerindiquar.41.3.0250|s2cid=159930747|issn=0095-182X}}</ref> Despite structural efforts to limit their political representation, some states with large Native American populations have higher levels of representation. [[South Dakota]] has a Native population of about 9% with multiple [[List of federally recognized tribes in the United States|federally recognized tribal nations]], and it has been used as a case study of representation.<ref name=":5" /> A 2017 study that conducted interviews of former state elected officials in South Dakota revealed that even though many felt that they were only able to implement a limited number of significant changes for tribal communities, they still considered it to be "absolutely essential" that Native Americans had at least some descriptive representation to prevent complete exclusion from the political process.<ref name=":5" /> Moreover, formerly elected state and local government officials asserted that ensuring that the issues and concerns of tribal nations were addressed and understood depended on politicians with Native backgrounds.<ref name=":5" /> Historically backed suspicion and skepticism of the predominantly white US government was also considered to be an important reason for having representatives that reflect the histories and views of Native Americans.<ref name=":5" />

===== Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders =====
{{See also|Asian Americans in politics}}Relative to other, larger minority demographics in the United States, [[Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders]] (AAPI) face different challenges related to political representation. Few congressional districts have a population that includes over 50% Asian Americans, which can elevate the likelihood of being represented by someone of a different race or ethnicity.<ref name=":1" /> As with other minorities, this can result in people feeling unrepresented by their member of Congress.<ref name=":1" />