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On the Representativeness of Primary Electorates

Author

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  • Sides, John
  • Tausanovitch, Chris
  • Vavreck, Lynn
  • Warshaw, Christopher

Abstract

Primary voters are frequently characterized as an ideologically extreme subset of their party, and thus partially responsible for party polarization in government. This study uses a combination of administrative records on primary turnout and five recent surveys from 2008–14 to show that primary voters have similar demographic attributes and policy attitudes as rank-and-file voters in their party. These similarities do not vary according to the openness of the primary. These results suggest that the composition of primary electorates does not exert a polarizing effect above what might arise from voters in the party as a whole.

Suggested Citation

  • Sides, John & Tausanovitch, Chris & Vavreck, Lynn & Warshaw, Christopher, 2020. "On the Representativeness of Primary Electorates," British Journal of Political Science, Cambridge University Press, vol. 50(2), pages 677-685, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:cup:bjposi:v:50:y:2020:i:2:p:677-685_13
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