When the White House Picks Your Primary
Books that explain how presidential pressure, party enforcement, and ballot challenges shape who gets to run in state and local races.
Optimized for books about understanding how presidents and national political power intervene in state and local primary elections.
2024Josh Dawsey, Tyler PagerProvides a recent, inside account of presidential decision making and political tradeoffs that explain why...Shelf signal: Elections & Campaigns
Where Tyranny BeginsDavid Rohde, Eric Jason MartinExamines how presidential threats and co-option bend institutions, clarifying the coercive tools available during party...Shelf signal: The Presidency & Executive
Ballot BattlesEdward Foley, Edward B. FoleyTraces ballot disputes and legal mechanisms that determine who stays on or is removed from ballots, directly relevant...Shelf signal: Elections & Campaigns
It's Even Worse Than It LooksThomas E. Mann, Norman J. OrnsteinAnalyzes hyperpartisanship and institutional breakdowns that make high-level pressure campaigns into consequential...Shelf signal: Congress & Legislatures
Tyranny of the MinoritySteven Levitsky, Daniel ZiblattExplains how minority-rule dynamics and party strategies at the national level affect state contests and democratic...Shelf signal: National Government
Dark MoneyJane MayerInvestigates the role of wealthy networks and ideological actors who enable coordinated interventions in state...Shelf signal: Elections & Campaigns