Reforming Primary Elections

The American system of partisan primary elections for the House of Representatives and the Senate is often blamed for contributing to political polarization and conflict in Congress. These concerns have increased in recent decades, as both parties have at times failed to nominate candidates who would have broad general election appeal.

This book considers how primary elections have changed over the past decade and why they so often yield extreme or unpopular candidates. It provides detailed studies of how representative primary voters are of the population and how primary candidates plan their campaigns. The book uses this information to determine how reforms such as nonpartisan primaries might affect primary electorates, candidates, and legislators.

Collectively, the chapters in this book show that reform of primary election laws could improve the quality of American elections, but we are far from consensus about which reforms would be best or what the effects of existing reform proposals has been. This is the most comprehensive study of contemporary primaries, featuring many of the leading scholars on parties and elections in the United States.

• Combines scholarship on the consequences of congressional and state primary elections for voters, candidates, and political parties
• Helps scholars understand the links between primary elections and the behavior of members of Congress in office

Robert G. Boatright is a Professor of Political Science at Clark University and Director of Research for the National Institute for Civil Discourse at the University of Arizona.

Richard C. Barton is an Assistant Teaching Professor in the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University and a Democracy Fellow at Unite America.

"Distressing as the current state of our politics is, we take genuine encouragement from states experimenting with reforms designed to increase the participation and representativeness of primary elections. We are also impressed by the growing sophistication of research investigating these reforms. The chapters in this book document how primary elections have changed over the past decade, examine the impacts of reforms already implemented, and consider promising but as-yet-untested ideas."

—Former Senate Majority Leaders Tom Daschle and Trent Lott

"The Future of American Primary Elections offers a comprehensive and timely assessment of how primaries shape candidates, parties, and polarization in U.S. politics. Boatright and Barton have assembled an essential volume that will be indispensable for scholars, students, and practitioners alike. This book fills a critical gap in the literature and will quickly become an essential reference for understanding the evolving role of primaries in U.S. democracy."

—Jamie L. Carson, UGA Athletic Association Professor of Public and International Affairs II in the Department of Political Science at the University of Georgia

"The Future of American Primary Elections confronts a growing concern: why do primaries so often produce extreme or unpopular candidates, and how can reforms address the polarization and dysfunction that sometimes follow? With American voters demanding significant change in how democracy works, this book takes on that urgent challenge. Spanning voter behavior, candidate strategy, and reform experiments from Alaska to Nevada, its chapters bring together top scholars to examine how primary rules shape outcomes and what innovations might improve the process. Grounded in rigorous research yet written in an accessible style, this book is essential reading for anyone interested in American campaigns and elections, political parties, and the future of democratic governance."

—Peter L. Francia, Professor of Political Science and Director of the Center for Survey Research, East Carolina University