Individual Contributions to State Supreme Court Campaigns: Context and the Impact of Institutional Design. (September 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Boyea, Brent D.
• Is Part Of: State politics & policy quarterly. Volume 17:Number 3(2017:Sep.)
• Page Start: 227
• Page End: 250
• Publication Date: 2017-09
• Subjects: judicial elections -- judicial politics -- political participation -- political behavior -- electoral systems -- campaign finance -- campaigns; State governments -- United States -- Periodicals; Political planning -- United States -- States -- Periodicals; Gouvernements d'États fédérés -- États-Unis -- Périodiques; Politique publique -- États-Unis -- États -- Périodiques; 320.97305
• DOI: 10.1177/1532440016687334
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1532-4400

Abstract

Abstract: Building upon existing theories of political fundraising and citizen participation in elections, this study examines contributions from individuals as an essential form of political participation in state high court elections from 2000 through 2012. Specifically, I explore the degree to which candidate characteristics, state political environments, and the attributes of state institutions affect the size of individual contributions. The findings of this investigation indicate the participation of contributors in judicial elections closely resembles the activities of voters. Like voters, contributors respond to contextual forces that increase or decrease salience and the political information available to state citizens. Of particular importance are state decisions to use partisan or nonpartisan election designs. Decisions by states to use partisan elections have important consequences for the generosity of contributors with larger donations directed to candidates seeking office in the most professionalized elective state supreme courts.