The inspired and the discouraged: School board service and differential effects on political ambition.

Abstract

Given the national attention on Texas and its school board meetings, we ask-what are the effects of a contentious political atmosphere on desires to run for higher office? Further, how does this experience interact with individual-level traits to affect ambition? To investigate, we distributed a survey to elected school board trustees in Texas and analyzed quantitative and qualitative responses from 380 respondents. We find divergent paths, with some inspired and others deterred from future politics. Specifically, city residents were more affected, positively or negatively, than rural residents. Political newcomers, those feeling qualified, and Democrats were more likely to express higher ambition. In qualitative comments, the inspired wanted to make a difference, serve as a quality candidate, and represent others; the discouraged were upset by partisan politics, personal attacks, and constituents' behaviors. Overall, these findings suggest that the larger political climate matters in shaping which individuals embrace or exit politics.