Not the 51st State: Effect of social networks and ideology on Blacks vote for the Liberal Party of Canada

African Americans remain the most loyal supporters of the left-leaning Democratic Party in the United States despite studies reporting an increase in conservative values among this group. A body of research suggests that this enduring loyalty is driven mainly by social pressure and the influence of African American elites. African Americans who are deeply embedded in predominantly Black social networks and institutions, such as churches or colleges, have an overwhelming likelihood of voting Democrat, even when they hold the most conservative values on many issues. Focusing on Black Canadians, this research uses a survey experiment to explore whether progressive ideological cues influence the likelihood of Black Canadians voting for the Liberal Party and whether the racial composition of their social network mediates this effect. I find that racial homogeneity does not affect Black voters' probability of voting for the Liberal Party. Contrary to the United States, conservative stances on social issues influence Black Canadians' likelihood of voting for the Liberal Party, suggesting a stronger effect of ideology for Black voters in Canada.