State & Local Parties in Transition: New Structures, Technologies, and Coalitions

Session Submission Type: In-Person Full Paper Panel

Session Description

State and local parties have often been seen as weak in American politics but with the increase of candidate-centered campaigning and nationalized politics the importance of local political parties has been called even further into question. This panel investigates how state and local parties have adapted to 21st century polarized politics and highlights ways that social media, organizational change, and new coalitions challenge the traditional understanding of local parties. The papers on this panel showcase a number of approaches to understanding the role of state and local parties, including para-party organizations, state party spending in state and local elections, regionalism in state party organization, and local party activity on social media.

Sub Unit

• Division 35: Political Organizations and Parties

Individual Presentations

• Grassroots Reboot: Revitalized Democratic Party and Para-Party Organizations - Joseph Anthony, Oklahoma State University; Lara Putnam, University of Pittsburgh

• State Party Organizations, Independent Expenditures, and Spending Strategies - Jaclyn J. Kettler, Boise State University; Charles Hunt, Boise State University; Michael J. Malbin, University at Albany, SUNY; Brendan Glavin, Campaign Finance Institute; Keith E. Hamm, Rice University

• Explaining Loss and Victory: How Local Parties Explain Election Outcomes - Lee Hannah, Wright State University; Kevin Reuning, Miami University; Anne Whitesell, Miami University

Chair

• Daniel Bowen College of New Jersey

Discussants

• Douglas D. Roscoe

• Anne Whitesell Miami University