Boston College Third World Law Journal Volume 22 | Issue 1 Article 4 1-1-2002 The orF gotten Few: Campaign Finance Reform and Its Impact on Minority and Female Candidates Jason P. Conti Follow this and additional works at: http://lawdigitalcommons.bc.edu/twlj Part of the Election Law Commons Recommended Citation Jason P. Conti, The Forgotten Few: Campaign Finance Reform and Its Impact on Minority and Female Candidates, 22 B.C. Third World L.J. 99 (2002), http://lawdigitalcommons.bc.edu/twlj/vol22/ iss1/4 This Notes is brought to you for free and open access by the Law Journals at Digital Commons @ Boston College Law School. It has been accepted for inclusion in Boston College Third World Law Journal by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ Boston College Law School. For more information, please contact
[email protected]. THE FORGOTTEN FEW: CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM AND ITS IMPACT ON MINORITY AND FEMALE CANDIDATES JASON P. CONTI* Abstract: Campaign finance reform attracts intense political, academic, and media attention. The debate swirling around the McCain-Feingold legislation in 2001 is evidence of the power of the issue. Despite the intensity of the spotlight, commentators and politicians often overlook an important element of any proposed reform: diversity. This Note explores campaign finance reform from an under-explored angle: the impact proposed reforms would have on minority and female candidates. This Note explores the woefully inadequate diversity of representation in elective office and critiques numerous proposals for change from the perspective of a prospective minority or female candidate. This Note concludes that in order for the diversity of those holding elective office to better reflect the diversity of the nation as a whole, reformers must take the concerns of minority and female candidates into account and must institute publicly funded campaigns.