How Parties Recruit and Limit Candidates

Before primary voters get input, local party lead…

An episode of the The Science of Politics podcast, hosted by Niskanen Center, titled "How Parties Recruit and Limit Candidates" was published on June 14, 2023 and runs 48 minutes.

June 14, 2023 ·48m · The Science of Politics

Summary

Before primary voters get input, local party leaders recruit and select candidates to run for office. Their views produce and limit voters' choices. Even if voters might support candidates from diverse occupations or ethnicities, those candidates might never run if party leaders tap someone else. Michael Miller finds that county party chairs have different preferences than primary voters and party activists. They are very concerned with local ties and fear that their voters won’t support Black or Latino candidates. They are critical to giving voters choices, even in places where partisan competition is weak, but their strategic discrimination constrains the candidate pool.

Episode Description