The Politics of Presidential Pardons: Partisan Differences in Modern Clemency Decisions

Banks Miller, Brett Curry and Maureen Stobb

Social Science Quarterly, 2026, vol. 107, issue 2

Abstract: Objective We investigate how partisanship, political context, and recipient characteristics relate to presidential pardon behavior. We ask whether Democratic and Republican administrations exhibit unique patterns in the likelihood and timing of pardons across different crime categories. Methods We analyze presidential pardons issued from 1989 to 2024. Leveraging data on the crimes for which pardons are granted, recipient characteristics, and additional factors, we estimate logit and count models controlling for demographic characteristics, crime type, and political dynamics. We also incorporate interaction terms to examine how partisan differences vary across such contexts. Results Our results suggest that presidents utilize pardons to advance criminal justice priorities while navigating political constraints. Democratic and Republican administrations behave differently in the likelihood and timing of pardons in particular crime categories. Democrats are more likely to pardon non‐Whites, women, and narcotics offenders than Republicans, but are less likely to grant pardons when facing potential electoral threat. As Democratic presidents increase their rhetorical attention to crime, they grow less likely to issue pardons. Conclusions Our findings speak to issues surrounding executive clemency, issue ownership, criminal justice policy, and partisan governance. These patterns demonstrate that pardons can operate as policy tools shaped by ideological preferences and political constraints.

Date: 2026
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://doi.org/10.1111/ssqu.70133

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:bla:socsci:v:107:y:2026:i:2:n:e70133

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
http://www.blackwell ... bs.asp?ref=0038-4941

Access Statistics for this article

Social Science Quarterly is currently edited by Robert L. Lineberry

More articles in Social Science Quarterly from Southwestern Social Science Association
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Wiley Content Delivery ().