“Battle of the Extremes”: Party Polarization in the 2010 Pennsylvanian Senatorial Election

Emily Lieffers

doi:10.29173/agora10086

Abstract

This paper provides an in-depth analysis of the senatorial election held in Pennsylvania in November of 2010. The paper outlines the state's primary election campaigns and the eventual campaign between two ideologically-opposed candidates, Sestak and Toomey. By referencing extensive primary source documents (interviews, campaign videos, and speeches), supported by scholarly secondary sources, this paper argues that Pennsylvania's senatorial election is emblematic of greater party polarization across the United States. The candidates' unwillingness to provide moderate solutions to appeal to voters in this swing state is noteworthy and is reflective of the decline of centrist politics in the country. Though narrow in scope, the argument put forth in this paper has broader implications for polarization and political engagement in contemporary American politics.

Highlights

This paper provides an in-depth analysis of the senatorial election held in Pennsylvania in November of 2010
A recurring topic in contemporary American politics is the growth of ideological polarization, and while scholars differ on its causes, a consistent finding is that the electoral process itself contributes greatly to such internal divisions in American politics and the alienation of moderate voters from the political process
The 2010 midterm elections saw widespread Republican gains in Pennsylvania, a “quintessential swing state”i that has only slightly more registered Democrat voters than Republicans.ii The state was Democrat-leaning in the 2008 elections, electing President Barack Obama and twelve Democrats and seven Republicans into the House of Representatives.iii In the 2010 midterm elections, a Republican governor replaced a Democrat while twelve Republicans and seven Democrats were elected to the House of Representatives.iv Democrat