Flip-flopping from primaries to general elections

Patrick Hummel

Journal of Public Economics, 2010, vol. 94, issue 11-12, 1020-1027

Abstract: I consider a model in which candidates must win a primary election to compete in the general election. Candidates may choose different policies in the primary and the general election, but doing so results in accusations of flip-flopping. I show that candidates adopt extreme policies in the primaries but then try to move closer to the center for the general election even though primary voters are forward-looking and anticipate this policy moderation. The extent to which candidates move closer to the center is constrained by flip-flopping costs, and candidates choose divergent policies in the general election. I obtain comparative statics results on candidate policy choices in terms of voter preferences.

Keywords: Flip-flopping; Primary; elections; General; elections; Policy; selection (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2010
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (30)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:pubeco:v:94:y:2010:i:11-12:p:1020-1027

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