Voicing Support for Black Lives Matter in Congress and its Impact on the 2020 House Elections

The killing of George Floyd at the hands of police in the spring of 2020 not only refocused attention on racial inequality in America but also seemed to spark an increase in awareness among white Americans and support for Black Lives Matter (BLM). It is not clear, however, whether members of Congress would alter their own messaging and actions to meet the moment and how their messaging would impact them electorally. This chapter explains the impact messaging, or lack of messaging, on BLM had on the electoral outcomes of members of Congress who ran for reelection. An analysis of e-newsletters distributed by House members in 2020 reveals that few (13%) members voiced support publicly for BLM. White Democrats from safe districts were the most likely to voice support for BLM. Members who publicly voiced support of BLM won a higher share of the vote than members who stayed quiet or voiced opposition even after taking other variables into account.