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Gender Differences in the Decision to Run for School Board

Washington College, Chestertown, Maryland

Proponents of the political pipeline theory argue that when more women fill the ranks of locally elected positions, the number of qualified female candidates will increase and more women will eventually be elected statewide and nationally. Given that women are elected at the school board level at higher rates than any other political office, do women run for school board in hopes of using it as a stepping stone for a larger career in politics? This article analyzes whether there are gender differences among school board members with respect to the reasons they run for office. Men are more likely than women to be motivated to run to shape education policy and for religious or moral reasons. However, relatively few school board members run with the express purpose of gaining political experience, regardless of gender.

Key Words: political candidates • local politics • candidate recruitment • school board elections • gender • women and politics

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