Michael Olson is an assistant professor in the Department of Political Science at Washington University in St. Louis. His research focuses on the role that elections play in shaping representation in American politics, using data from a wide variety of settings across American history and different levels of government. His book, Stolen Representation: Black Disfranchisement and State Legislative Politics in the American South , will be published by Cambridge University Press in Spring 2026.
When: Thursday, March 12th
Where: Ellison Hall, Lane Room (3824)
Time: 12:30-2:00pm
Abstract: Is legislative organization used to diminish the political influence of racial minorities? We argue that it is plausible either that majority whites will overtly discriminate against minority voters and legislators, or that minority voters’ electoral pivotality and influence in party organizations will result in “positive” discrimination. We explore these possibilities by drawing on fine-grained ward- and alderperson-level data from the city councils of three major American cities during the First Great Migration. We show that neither ward nor legislator race consistently predict the likelihood of that ward's representative serving as a committee chair or on a powerful committee. We find some evidence of discrimination when such legislators are in the minority party; qualitative evidence, however, suggests that local party organizations provided a vehicle for Black elevation in local politics. Our study provides rich new evidence for the nature of local legislative politics amidst the demographic upheaval of the First Great Migration.