How do I filter query results using the WHERE keyword with Redshift python connector?

I am using the python connector for Redshift to query my database. Queries work predictably until I attempt to use the WHERE keyword. For example, running the query: "select * from dev.public.test_host WHERE first_column = git" returns

redshift_connector.error.ProgrammingError: {'S': 'ERROR', 'C': '42703', 'M': 'column "git" does not exist in test_host', 'F': '../src/pg/src/backend/parser/parse_expr.c', 'L': '1523', 'R': 'transformColumnRef'}

Another example: "select * from information_schema.tables WHERE table_name = test_host" returns

redshift_connector.error.ProgrammingError: {'S': 'ERROR', 'C': '42703', 'M': 'column "test_host" does not exist in tables', 'F': '../src/pg/src/backend/parser/parse_expr.c', 'L': '1523', 'R': 'transformColumnRef'}

These queries return the correct answer when run in Redshift Query Editor v2. They also return correct answers when run without the 'where' part. Please help.