Gender, Campaign Contributions, and State Intermediate Appellate Court Elections

The effect of gender on state judicial elections is well-traversed, but what is understudied is whether gender affects contributions to state judicial campaigns, particularly in state intermediate appellate courts. Using campaign contribution data from 1994-2012, we analyze whether women are less likely than men to receive higher donation amounts, and whether differences in fundraising between male and female candidates differs between Southern and non-Southern states. We conclude that gender does significantly impact donations in state IAC campaigns, with Southern female candidates raising more money than male candidates, and non-Southern female candidates raising less money than male candidates. We conclude by discussing our findings and where research should proceed.