| Abstract | Intraparty competition weighs heavily on a party, particularly one as large as the Republican Party in the United States. Intraparty competition is defined, measured, and analyzed in a number of different studies by both American and comparative scholars, but generally focuses on the impact (either positive or negative) of intraparty competition on the political party itself. This study will go a step further and evaluate its effect on governing, asking whether an increase in intraparty competition can lead to irregular party unity and electoral shifting. In order to answer this question, this study examines Republican intraparty competition since 2008 by evaluating candidates who have encountered or are expected to encounter primary opponents in the past and if their unity to the party leadership has been affected. The implications are substantial, including a greater understanding of the relationship between intraparty competition and primary elections, and their consequent effects on governing. |
