Party Pursuits and The Presidential-House Election Connection, 1900-2008

by Jeffrey M. Stonecash

Overview

This study proposes and assesses an alternative explanation of the changes in the relationship between presidential and House of Representatives election results during the last century. Jeffrey M. Stonecash argues that the separation of presidential and House election results that occurred from the 1960s to 1980 was a party-driven process, with both parties seeking to change their electoral base. Republicans sought a more conservative electoral base to counter what they saw as disturbing liberal trends in the nation. Democrats sought to reduce their reliance on the South and its conservativism. Presidential and House election results changed at different rates, creating an appearance that they were unconnected, but they eventually came together. Although many saw these changes in election results as evidence of parties' decline, this study reaffirms their position as central actors in bringing about change.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781107616752
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	12/17/2012
Pages:	232
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Jeffrey M. Stonecash is Maxwell Professor of Political Science at Syracuse University. He is the author of Reassessing the Incumbency Effect (Cambridge University Press, 2009), Political Parties Matter: Realignment and the Return of Partisan Voting (2005), Political Polling: Strategic Information in Campaigns (2005) and The Emergence of State Government: Parties and New Jersey Politics, 1950–2000 (2002). He co-authored Counter Realignment: Political Change in the Northeast (with Howard L. Reiter, Cambridge University Press, 2011), Dynamics of American Political Parties (with Mark D. Brewer, Cambridge University Press, 2009), Split: Class and Cultural Divides in American Politics (with Mark D. Brewer, 2007) and Diverging Parties: Realignment, Social Change, and Political Polarization (with Mark D. Brewer and Mark Mariani, 2002). He is the editor of New Directions in American Political Parties (2010).

Table of Contents

Part I. Election Patterns and Interpretive Frameworks: 1. Disconnecting and reconnecting presidential-House election results; 2. The study of presidential-House elections; 3. Reconsidering conclusions: a critique; 4. Explaining change: the role of party pursuits; Part II. Explaining a Changing Relationship: 5. The Democratic pursuit of the North; 6. Expanding the Democratic base; 7. Republican and Democratic pursuits of new constituents; 8. The consequences of changing electoral bases; 9. Regional patterns of change; 10. Realignment and converging election results; 11. Party pursuits and American democracy; Appendix I. Presidential-House election data by House districts; Appendix II. The presidential-House relationship and uncontested House races; Appendix III. Alternative explanations of change.

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“A valuable historical perspective. . . . Stonecash demonstrates that the decline and reemergence of the connection between presidential and U.S. House elections over the past sixty years was a product of shifts in the ideological underpinnings of the American party system – driven by party leaders. A must read for anyone wanting to understand our current polarized party system.” – Alan Abramowitz, Emory University

“Stonecash has unified previously divergent findings by taking a simple but often untried tack. His book looks at elections from the point of view of the parties that shape campaigns, instead of merely from the point of view of voters who respond to them.” – Hans Noel, Georgetown University

Editorial Reviews

"A valuable historical perspective … Stonecash demonstrates that the decline and reemergence of the connection between presidential and US House elections over the past sixty years was a product of shifts in the ideological underpinnings of the American party system - driven by party leaders. A must read for anyone wanting to understand our current polarized party system."
Alan Abramowitz, Emory University

"Stonecash has unified previously divergent findings by taking a simple but often untried tack. His book looks at elections from the point of view of the parties that shape campaigns, instead of merely from the point of view of voters who respond to them."
Hans Noel, Georgetown University

"Stonecash challenges the notion that the connection between presidential and congressional elections has been irrevocably frayed by the advent of candidate-centered politics … This is a well-researched book that creates a new interpretation of events … Highly recommended. General readers, undergraduate students, graduate students, and research faculty."
A. D. McNitt, Choice

From the Publisher