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Good Question: Where Are Minorities In Politics?

(WCCO) This election year, voters are putting Minnesota on the map again. A Twin Cities candidate for the House of Representatives could become the first Muslim to serve in congress and Minnesota's first African-American congressman. That news made national headlines.

"For a long time people just assumed a politician had to be a white male," said one woman in Minneapolis.

But here in Minnesota we have yet to elect an African-American to congress, a woman as U.S. Senator or a female Governor.

"I mean it's the 21st century," said one Minnesota man. "A lot of these milestones should have been met a long time ago."

"With every election women and minorities are making increases," said Dr. Kathryn Pearson, who teaches politics at the University of Minnesota.

There are 535 members of Congress. Just 15 percent are women and 14 percent are minorities.

"What people don't realize, I think, is that when women run women win at the same rate as their male counterparts," said Pearson. "So the problem actually is that not enough women are running for office."

The same is true with minorities. The problems both groups face are a lack of political experience, a harder time raising money and research that shows they see themselves as less qualified.

Asked if he believed sexism and racism still played a role in this phenomenon, Pearson responded "I think to some extent the answer has to be yes. The good news is with more and more women running and holding office these stereotypes are breaking down."

Other countries like Liberia, Chile, Ireland, Germany, and Haiti all have female leaders. However, many of their political systems are different.

"In some countries, every other line on the party list has to have a woman on it," said Pearson.

Things are tougher in the United States because our system favors those already in office.