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Res Publica - Journal of Undergraduate Research

Abstract

This study investigates the potential effects of campaign finance reform, namely the banning of party or "soft" money on each candidate group (Democrats and Republicans, men and women) for the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate. Emphasis is placed on the difference in the effect the reform will have on the sexes. Following analysis of the sources and average totals of campaign financing for all of the groups in the 2000 elections, it can be noted that Republican women stand to be affected by campaign finance reform more than any other group, as they received the largest average amount of party money. Meanwhile, Democratic women stand to be the least affected by the reform. Republican men are slightly more likely than Democratic men to be affected by the reform. Therefore, as a whole, the Republican Party stands to lose the most campaign finance dollars through the reform, with Republican women sustaining the largest losses.

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