Political Party Trends in 1985: The continuing But Constrained Advance of the National Party

Abstract

In 1985 the national party organizations continued to expand their spheres of activity into state and local politics. Both parties made preparations for extensive involvement in the 1986 state legislative elections. The Republican National Committee initiated programs to aid county party organizations, to induce Democratic state legislators to join the GOP, and to encourage Democratic voters to switch their party registration. The national Democratic party continued to assert authority over state parties as it engaged in the quadrennial practice of rules reform. In contrast to the past, the 1985 reform process resulted in no significant rules changes and in little intra-party skirmishing. Both parties, however, were forced to recognize the limits of national party influence in state and local politics.