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Hey, Governors, Leave Them Kids Alone: Political Influence During Childhood

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  • Daniele, Gianmarco
  • Galletta, Sergio
  • Le Moglie, Marco
  • Masera, Federico

Abstract

We study the role of officeholders in the formation of political preferences during childhood. Leveraging data on 200 million registered voters and a regression discontinuity design based on U.S. gubernatorial elections, we show that state governors systematically shift voters’ partisan alignment toward their own party. The effects are concentrated among individuals who were between the ages of 6 and 17 during a governor’s tenure. Each additional year of exposure to a Republican governor during childhood increases the probability of Republican registration in adulthood by 0.45 percentage point. We also document lasting impacts on primary participation and survey-based attitudes. The effects are systematically stronger in settings where governors enjoy greater institutional authority, especially over education and budgeting, and when they are more popular.

Suggested Citation

  • Daniele, Gianmarco & Galletta, Sergio & Le Moglie, Marco & Masera, Federico, 2026. "Hey, Governors, Leave Them Kids Alone: Political Influence During Childhood," CEPR Discussion Papers 21907, Centre for Economic Policy Research.
    • Handle: RePEc:cpr:ceprdp:21907
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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • D72 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - Political Processes: Rent-seeking, Lobbying, Elections, Legislatures, and Voting Behavior
    • D83 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Search; Learning; Information and Knowledge; Communication; Belief; Unawareness
    • D91 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making
    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education

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