Diversity for Access? Legislative Diversity, Identity Group Mobilization, and Lobbying

Abstract We examine the historical effects of ethnic and racial diversification among legislators on identity group mobilization hiring nonwhite lobbyists. propose that encouraged groups to lobby, these hired lobbyists who reflected their members’ identities, all interests also identities new legislative targets. apply a Bayesian estimation approach infer were active in American states over several decades. find election African Americans state legislatures black groups, including those representing Hispanics or Latinos, generally Asian hire Asian-American Hispanic Latino gained clients response more Democratic legislatures.