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Parties and Elections in SC

Parties and Elections in SC. Bob Botsch. The Development of Strong Parties in SC. Conditions for strong parties: Competition with another party (not SC—one party factionalism, Dem and now Rep) Control over nominations (not SC—primaries) Control over campaign money (rise of PACs)

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Parties and Elections in SC

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  1. Parties and Elections in SC Bob Botsch

  2. The Development of Strong Parties in SC • Conditions for strong parties: • Competition with another party (not SC—one party factionalism, Dem and now Rep) • Control over nominations (not SC—primaries) • Control over campaign money (rise of PACs) • Administrative control over bureaucracy through appointments by party leader like governor (not SC—govt mostly by boards and commissions and legislature)

  3. Periods of Party Competition • Pre Civil War—two parties, but elite leadership due to malapportionment • Reconstruction—temporary Republican Rule (1868-1876) • White rebellion—led to “Solid Democratic” South and SC (1877-1960’s)—one party factionalism • Post Civil Rights Era (1970s–1980s) before white flight to Republicans completed & before reapportionment after 1990 census

  4. Erosion of Party Competition since 1990 • Most whites move to GOP by mid 80s • Most Democrats are African-Americans and that gives them too small a base to compete (30% statewide, but about 25% of the vote) • Means Dem need 25 points of 70 points (or 35%) of the white vote to win • Legislative districts drawn to maximize “minority-majority” districts and thus minimize “minority-influence” districts

  5. Structure of Political Parties in SC • Democrats (www.scdp.org) • Republicans (www.scgop.com) • Hierarchical structure with: • precincts at bottom, w/chair as minimum • county party organization, organized at annual county conventions, send delegates to state convention • State level has professional organization and state chair and executive director

  6. Sources of Campaign Funds in SC • Individual contributions (indirect path for interest groups)—about 60% • PAC/corporate/labor contributions—about 25% (more for incumbents) • Political parties and committees—about 5-10% (more for contested races) • Personal money—about 5-10% (more for challengers)

  7. Spending of Campaign $ in SC • Media, including internet • Direct mail (in decline as internet rises) • Phone banks • Canvassing • Polls • Professional managers, but most use volunteers except for state-wide offices and competitive legislative races • Much emphasis on name recognition, e.g. yard signs and billboards

  8. Differences between Democrats and Republican in SC • Affirmative Action • Health Care • Abortion • Sex education • Gender roles (ERA) • Gay rights • Restrictions on firearms • Prayer in school • School vouchers • Environmental protection and global warming • Land use planning and regulation • Taxes at state and local levels • Note on “Tea Party” Republicans—the most conservative of the conservatives

  9. Redistricting since the 1990s • Political alliance of convenience between Legislative Black Caucus and Republicans • Produced more black majority districts (minority-majority districts) • Each new one created two more white majority precincts • Losers were white Democrats in particular and Democrats in general and perhaps blacks who live in districts where white Republican legislators can ignore them completely • Impact on new 7th congressional district for 2012

  10. Prospects for Change • Younger people less conservative on range of issues, especially social, environmental and educational issues • Growing minority population with rise of Hispanic population • In-migrants who are less conservative on most issues • Problem of attracting high quality candidates • How long?

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