Campaign Dynamics of the Top-Two Primary: Invoking Competition and Representational Pressure in one-party Contests

Abstract

ABSTRACTWhen top-two primaries produce general election contests between two candidates of the same party, those candidates can no longer rely on party-based voting to win. By changing the mix of opponents that candidates face, the top-two primary broadens the electorate to which candidates are pressured to respond. In this paper, I investigate how same-party contests influence candidates’ campaign strategies and representational efforts by interviewing state legislative candidates in Washington and North Carolina. I focus on candidates in lopsided districts that favour one party, but those in Washington faced opponents from within their own party. Two key findings emerge from these interviews. First, candidates in one-party contests broaden the ideological range of voters and interest groups to whom they appeal. Second, candidates in one-party contests adopt vigorous campaign strategies, including voter contact efforts, that one would expect in a highly-competitive contest – even when the contest is not competitive. Ultimately, findings improve our understanding of the consequences of electoral rules for representation.