Our systems are now restored following recent technical disruption, and we’re working hard to catch up on publishing. We apologise for the inconvenience caused. Find out more

Recommended product

Popular links

Popular links


We Choose You

We Choose You

We Choose You

How Black Voters Decide Which Candidates to Support
Julian J. Wamble, George Washington University, Washington DC
February 2025
Available
Hardback
9781009483124

    In We Choose You, Julian J. Wamble investigates the sophisticated process of Black voter candidate selection. Contrary to the common assumption that Black voters will support Black politicians, Wamble explores what considerations, outside of race, partisanship, and gender, Black voters use to choose certain representatives over others. The book complicates our view of candidate selection, expands our understanding of identity's role in the representative-constituent paradigm, and provides a framework through which scholars can determine a candidates preferability for other identity groups. Wamble uses original experimental tests on Black respondents to prove that Black voters prefer a politician, regardless of race, who shows a commitment to prioritizing the racial group's interest through personal sacrifice. Novel and timely, this book makes an important contribution to our understanding of Black political behavior and will only gain salience as the significance of the Black vote increases in upcoming elections.

    • Establishes a novel theoretical framework that expands how we think about identity in politics
    • Grounds theory and experimental methods in real world examples such as the Obama presidency
    • Connects a strong historical foundation to the contemporary political moment

    Reviews & endorsements

    ‘Wamble offers an innovative perspective on the question of what drives candidate support in the Black community. He argues that these voters are most attracted to candidates who have signaled their sacrifice on behalf of collective Black interests. I found We Choose You to be fascinating, thorough, deeply theoretical, and ultimately persuasive.’ Vincent L. Hutchings, Hanes Walton Jr. Collegiate Professor, The University of Michigan

    ‘This book delves into how Black voters select candidates. Is it based primarily on the candidate’s race? Wamble asserts that Black people consider other factors, favoring group prioritization over self-interest. We Choose You is an original, must-read treatment of Black politics.’ Katherine Tate, Professor of Political Science, Brown University

    ‘We Choose You is one of the most important books published in recent years on Black American political behavior. It offers a fresh new take on questions about the centrality of race to Black political judgments and deeply engages the complexity of descriptive representation in Black political decision making. It is well researched, well written, and insightful. It will soon be essential reading for anyone interested in understanding race and ethnic politics.’ Ismail K. White, Professor of Politics and Public Affairs, Princeton University

    ‘The book helps make sense of previous Black voter behavior and provides a road map for scholars seeking to better understand Black political attitudes and behavior. … Recommended.’ M. R. Michelson, CHOICE

    See more reviews

    Product details

    February 2025
    Hardback
    9781009483124
    246 pages
    229 × 152 × 18 mm
    0.471kg
    Available

    Table of Contents

    • Acknowledgments
    • List of figures
    • List of tables
    • Introduction
    • 1. The historical foundations of community commitment
    • 2. Community commitment signalling framework
    • 3. The nuances in black voters' candidate selection process
    • 4. An aggregate test of community commitment signalling
    • 5. Community commitment signalling & black candidate evaluations
    • 6. Community commitment signalling & white candidate evaluations
    • Conclusion
    • References
    • Index
    • Appendices.
      Author
    • Julian J. Wamble , George Washington University, Washington DC

      Julian J. Wamble is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at George Washington University. His research has been featured in the New York Times, Washington Post, and Journal of Politics.