When politicians run for local office, they try to appeal to lots of different kinds of voters. And one way they do this is by collecting endorsements from public figures and organizations those voters trust. But does that actually influence the way people vote? Professor Andrea Benjamin explores the role of endorsements in local elections, how race plays into the equation, and what this means for campaigns both big and small.

For more on this topic:

• Check out Benjamin's book, Racial Coalition Building in Local Elections
• Read her SSN brief, The Impact of Endorsements in Racially Mixed Elections