American Elections and Party Power

National elections have enormous consequences.

Political parties are the institutional actors that contest and win almost every state and federal election, and it is largely party outcomes that determine the future of the American government.

The present and past development of the US party system and how the parties contest elections are the focus of this course, especially the parties' changing ideologies, personalities, and geographic variation over time, up through and including the 2026 midterm elections.

Students learn about theoretical views of political parties, the electoral rules that produce party incentives and structures, and key moments in the development of the US political party system.

The current events of the 2026 midterm elections also are an important focus as the campaign unfolds over the course of the semester.