The Effect of Increased Political Polarization on Female Presidential Primary Funding

Since the founding of the United States of America (US), fifty percent of the population has been severely underrepresented in elected political office. From the very first colony to the present day, the citizens of the US have never elected a female head of state. It is vital to analyze the hurdles that prevent a Madame President. This paper analyzes one of the biggest hurdles to being elected: funding, through the lens of an increasingly politically polarized world. With the 2028 election cycle rapidly approaching, conversations on gender and presidential politics are intertwined more than ever. Through thorough analysis of non-Political Action Committee (PAC) funding during the primary campaigns of Hillary Clinton in 2016 and Nikki Haley in 2024, this study examines the effect of a highly political polarized climate on female candidates’ ability to fundraise.. After comparing the total funds raised by Clinton and Haley for their primary campaigns with total funds raised during other primary campaigns including Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders in 2020, Clinton and Barack Obama in 2008, and John McCain and George W. Bush in 2000,the higher the political polarization, the less non-PAC funds female candidates raised. During high political polarization, Clinton’s 2016 primary campaign had the smallest difference and Haley’s primary campaign 2024 had the biggest difference. Ultimately, this study highlights how political polarization prioritizes electability in a world where the voice of misogyny deems women unelectable in donor’s eyes, effectively cutting off women at the support level.