Race, Location, and Education

Abstract

Throughout the 1990s, unprecedented numbers of Black mayors were elected in large American cities. Previous explanatory factors for Black mayoral success based on the 1970s and 1980s may no longer be adequate given the economic transformations to cities in the 1990s. This study examines structural demographic data to investigate the trends in Black mayoral success. The author finds that the proportion of the Black population, educational attainment, and regional location affect the electoral success of Black mayors.