The direct primary stands as one of the most significant and distinctive political reforms of the Progressive era in American history. In this book, the authors provide the most comprehensive treatment available on the topic and utilize new data on election outcomes, candidate backgrounds, incumbent performance and behavior, newspaper endorsements, and voters' preferences. They begin by studying whether primary elections have achieved the goals set by progressive reformers when they were first introduced over a century ago. They then evaluate the key roles these elections have played in the US electoral systems, such as injecting electoral competition into the regions that are dominated by one of the two major parties, helping select relatively qualified candidates for office, and, in some cases, holding incumbents accountable for their performance. They conclude with studying the degree to which primaries are responsible for the current, highly polarized environment. Anyone interested in US primary elections, US political history, or electoral institutions more generally should read this book.
The 2020 presidential primaries are on the horizon and this third edition of Elaine Kamarck's Primary Politics will be there to help make sense of them. Updated to include the 2016 election, it will once again be the guide to understanding the modern nominating system that gave the American electorate a choice between Donald Trump and Hilary Clinton. In Primary Politics, political insider Elaine Kamarck explains how the presidential nomination process became the often baffling system we have today, including the “robot rule.” Her focus is the largely untold story of how presidential candidates since the early 1970s have sought to alter the rules in their favor and how their failures and successes have led to even more change. She describes how candidates have sought to manipulate the sequencing of primaries to their advantage and how Iowa and New Hampshire came to dominate the system. She analyzes the rules that are used to translate votes into delegates, paying special attention to the Democrats' twenty-year fight over proportional representation and some of its arcana. Drawing on meticulous research, interviews with key figures in both parties, and years of experience, this book explores one of the most important questions in American politics—how we narrow the list of presidential candidates every four years.
Primary elections have been used for the past century for most U.S. elective offices and their popularity is growing in other nations as well. In some circumstances, primaries ensure that citizens have a say in elections and test the skills of candidates before they get to the general election. Yet primaries are often criticized for increasing the cost of elections, for producing ideologically extreme candidates, and for denying voters the opportunity to choose candidates whose appeal transcends partisanship. Few such arguments have, however, been rigorously tested. This innovative Handbook evaluates many of the claims, positive and negative, that have been made about primaries. It is organized into six sections, covering the origins of primary elections; primary voters; US presidential primaries; US subpresidential primaries; primaries in other parts of the world; and reform proposals. The Routledge Handbook of Primary Elections is an important research tool for scholars, a resource guide for students, and a source of ideas for those who seek to modify the electoral process.
Congressional primaries are increasingly being blamed for polarization and gridlock in Congress. Most American states adopted congressional primaries during the first decades of the 20th century as a means of breaking the hold of political "bosses" on the nomination of candidates. Yet now, many contend that primaries have become a means by which the most dedicated party activists choose candidates unrepresentative of the electorate, and so general election voters are forced to choose between two ideologically extreme candidates. Consequently, there have been recent instances in both parties where nominees were chosen who were clearly not preferred by party leaders, and who arguably lost elections that their parties should have won. This book is the first to focus solely upon congressional primary elections, and to do so for a student readership. Boatright organizes his text around the contention that there are important differences between types of primaries, and these differences prevent us from making blanket statements about primary competition. He focuses on explanations of two sources of difference: differences in electoral structure and differences brought about by the presence or absence of an incumbent seeking reelection. The first three chapters introduce these differences, explore how they came to exist, and outline some of the strategic considerations for candidates, parties, interest groups, and voters in primary elections. The subsequent four chapters explore different types of primary elections, and the final chapter evaluates actual and proposed primary reforms. Congressional Primary Elections is the first book to provide a history and analysis of congressional primary elections and will serve as a crucial part of courses on political parties and campaigns and elections. The book gives students the tools for understanding arguments for and against the reform of primary elections and for understanding the differences between types of primaries.
This is a record of voting data in easy-to-use format. From the compilation of data organized by county and state emerges a picture of voting behaviour and political trends. The material also sheds light on voting habits of different parties and regions.
DO YOU KNOW THE MEANING, PROCESSES, AND SIGNIFICANCE OF PRIMARY ELECTIONS? KEEP READINGEvery four years people of the United States cast their vote in the election process of their Chief Executive - the President of the United States But many kids and people alike do not comprehend the process by which we elect our president. Are we casting a vote directly for one of them or for an elector, and what is the difference? And moving backward from November, how did those men and/or women come up on the November ballot in the first place? What is the process of a political party picking its candidate, via this complex variety of caucuses and primaries that have been held? This tiny book delves through the constitutional foundation and premise for this crucial post and then goes through the nomination process of caucuses and primaries, finishing with the Electoral College procedure that completes the cycle every four years. The direct primary ranks as one of the most important and unique political changes of the Progressive period in American history. In this book, Nicole G. Bump gives the most thorough coverage available on the issue and employs fresh data on election results, candidate histories, incumbent performance and conduct, newspaper endorsements, and voters' preferences. They begin by evaluating whether primary elections have accomplished the aims intended by progressive reformers when they were originally introduced over a century ago. They then evaluate the key roles these elections have played in the US electoral systems, such as injecting electoral competition into the regions that are dominated by one of the two major parties, helping select relatively qualified candidates for office, and, in some cases, holding incumbents accountable for their performance. He closes by handling most of the often asked questions concerning primary elections. Anyone interested in US primary elections, US political history, or electoral institutions more broadly should read this book. In this book you will discover: A comprehensive summary of the primary election in the United States Everything about the numerous sorts of the primary election The rationale for the primary election in the electoral process All the distinctions between primary and general elections Why the electoral college has never been reformed How impact California has in picking the president Facts about primary elections All the steps in the presidential primary election Frequently asked questions and answers concerning primary elections Etc. In short: this book is truly astounding and will open your eyes to the rigors that lead to the emergence of the president of the United States every four years. Happy reading. SCROLL UP AND CLICK THE BUY BUTTON
The recent rise of “primarying” corresponds to the rise of national fundraising bases and new types of partisan organizations supporting candidates around the country
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