This study investigates how environmental crises shape gendered patterns of political representation. Focusing on droughts, it explores whether and why female political candidacy increases in areas experiencing severe environmental stress. We propose and empirically test three alternate or complimentary mechanisms linking drought to women’s political participation: a party-driven explanation, where parties strategically place women in affected constituencies; a voter-driven explanation, where voters become more supportive of female candidates; and a candidate-driven explanation, where women themselves are politically activated by drought conditions. To test these propositions, we draw upon comprehensive data of political candidates, electoral results, geo-referenced citizen surveys, and climatic drought data in Brazil and South Africa from 2001-2023. The study highlights how environmental shocks can alter the supply, demand, and will of women in politics.
