Party Switchers and Reelection: A Precinct-Level Analysis

Authors

  • Seth C. McKee Texas Tech University
  • Antoine Yoshinaka University of Buffalo, SUNY
  • Keith E. Lee Jr.
  • Richard McKenzie

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15763/issn.2374-779X.2016.35.2.1-26

Abstract

We use precinct-level data to examine two questions: how an incumbent’s “reelection constituency” changes following a party switch and whether incumbents who switch parties do worse than non-switchers. Our data come from four members of the U.S. House who switched parties between 1995 and 2004. Among this group, one switched parties prior to the enactment of a controversial redistricting plan, and thus we can assess how boundary changes mitigate the negative impact of party switching. We also compare each party switcher’s vote following the switch with that of non-switching incumbents running for reelection that year.

Author Biography

Seth C. McKee, Texas Tech University

Seth C. McKee is an Associate Professor of Political Science at Texas Tech University. Previously, McKee taught at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg. He received his Ph.D. in Government from the University of Texas in 2005, a Masters degree in Economics (1998), and a Bachelors degree in Political Science (1996) from Oklahoma State University. His primary area of research focuses on American electoral politics and especially party system change in the American South. He has published research on such topics as political participation, vote choice, redistricting, party switching, and strategic voting behavior. McKee is the author of Republican Ascendancy in Southern U.S. House Elections (Westview Press 2010) and the editor of Jigsaw Puzzle Politics in the Sunshine State (University Press of Florida 2015).

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Published

2016-12-06

Issue

Vol. 35 No. 2 (2016)

Section

Articles

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