Winning the Nomination: An Examination of Campaign Strategy in Primary Elections

Session Submission Type: Full Paper Panel

Session Description

This panel examines the strategic behavior of both candidates and political parties in U.S. primary elections. Each paper seeks to understand and evaluate how electoral conditions---including voter turnout, candidate demographics, and fundraising---affect candidate decision-making and, moreover, shape primary election outcomes. The papers use a variety of methodological techniques, such as regression discontinuity design (RDD) and text analysis, to consider these important topics. The implications of candidate strategy on emergence decisions and behavior in office are also discussed.

Sub Unit

• Division 22: Legislative Studies

Individual Presentations

• Dropout Decisions in U.S. House Elections - Danielle Thomsen, University of California, Irvine

• Party Coordination in House Primary Elections - Hans J.G. Hassell, Florida State University

• Changing the Dialogue: Candidate Position-Taking in Primary Elections - Rachel Porter; Maura McDonald, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill; Sarah A. Treul, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

• Primaries and the Demobilization of People of Color in Legislative Elections - Raquel Centeno, University of Southern California; Nancy Hernandez, University of Southern California; Kayla Wolf, University of Southern California; Christian R. Grose, University of Southern California

Chair

• John H. Aldrich Duke University

Discussant

• Daniel M. Butler WUSTL