Unconventional Nominations: Party Conventions and Representation in the U.S.

• In Event: Comparing American Nominating Systems (Virtual)

Abstract

This work analyzes the effects of party conventions on the ideological positioning of nominees for U.S. Congress. In some congressional districts, party conventions are held prior to any primary election as part of the nominating process. To examine the effects of these conventions, I analyze U.S. House elections from 2002-2010 using data which place major party nominees on the same ideological dimension as their primary and general electorates. I find evidence that party conventions weaken the ideological relationship between congressional nominees and their primary constituencies by reducing the threat of a primary election. In contrast to non-convention districts, I find little ideological relationship between House nominees and rank-and-file party members in convention-holding districts. Instead, candidates appear to be responsive to elites at conventions leading to more extreme nominees. These findings suggest the widespread use of primary elections in the U.S. leads to congressional nominees that are ideologically responsive to their primary electorates.

Author

• Jordan Kujala, University of California, Davis