The Influence of Special Interests and Party Activists on Electoral Competition

This article investigates how a key stratum of the partisan elite—party activists—have been positioned across time and policy issues. We examine the extent to which activists have polarized symmetrically or asymmetrically and find that only on the issue of abortion has one party’s activists (Republicans) polarized notably more than the other’s. The article also analyzes party activist proximity to the mass public’s policy preferences and finds that Democrats are consistently closer to the public on economic issues, and Republicans are consistently closer on a subset of non-economic issues. Our findings suggest the need for more nuanced theories of party activism and polarization along with providing a useful lens through which to view party electoral competition.

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How do electoral competition and special interests shape the stringency of renewable energy standards?

Environmental Economics and Policy Studies ◽

10.1007/s10018-011-0020-4 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

pp. 23-34 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Johannes Urpelainen

Keyword(s):

Renewable Energy ◽

Electoral Competition ◽

Special Interests

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Party Activists in Virginia, 1991-2001: Finishing the Realignment Cycle

American Review of Politics ◽

10.15763/issn.2374-7781.2003.24.0.197-211 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 24 ◽

pp. 197-211

Author(s):

John J. McGlennon

Keyword(s):

Party System ◽

Electoral Competition ◽

State Legislature ◽

The State ◽

Party Activists ◽

Democrats And Republicans ◽

And Control

Virginia has become a mature two-party system in recent decades, with Democrats and Republicans actively competing for statewide offices and control of the state legislature. This com-petition has been accompanied by an acceleration of the partisan divide among party activists over issues and ideology, giving voters a clear choice between parties which are much more representative of their national counterparts. The erosion of Democratic dominance has been long accepted, and both GOP and Democratic activists see their party structures strengthening as they prepare for continued electoral competition.

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