“FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS VOTING” IN GUBERNATORIAL AND SENATORIAL PRIMARIES

Abstract

This study tests for localism in statewide primary elections using a sample of 197 candidates in 35 states from 1988 through 1990. Results show that, on average, candidates received 12.08 percentage points more of the vote in their home counties than in the rest of the state. Three determinants of localism are isolated: the size of the candidate's home county, the region in which the race took place, and incumbency.