314 Chapter 9 | Electionsor to amnesty for undocumented immigrants might be a winning electoral strategy—
just as support for these proposals would generally be helpful for candidates running in
states or districts where most voters are moderate to liberal or Democrats.
The two-step electoral process in American elections also influences candidate
positions. To win office, candidates have to campaign three times: first to build a staff
and gain contributors and volunteers (the so-called silent primary or money primary),
then in a primary to get on the ballot, and then in a general election. This process gives
candidates an incentive to take relatively extreme policy positions—and encourages
the entry of relatively extreme candidates—because party activists, contributors,
and primary voters (the people whose support candidates need to attract in the first
two steps) hold more extreme positions than voters in the general election. Thus, in
the typical congressional district, Republican candidates win primaries by taking
conservative positions, while Democratic candidates win primaries by upholding
liberal views.
However, a position or promise that attracts votes in a primary election might
not work so well in the general election, or vice versa. For example, during the 2016
Democratic presidential nomination campaign, challenger Bernie Sanders attracted
support by promising to expand government health insurance programs. While this
promise was popular among Democratic activists, contributors, and primary voters
and helped Sanders compete in a close race against Hillary Clinton for the nomination,
it would likely have cost Sanders considerable support in the general election.
Table 9.1 lists part of the campaign platforms of the 2016 presidential candidates
and shows their similarities and differences in eight issue areas that received
considerable attention during the campaign. In all of these areas, Clinton and Trump
offered sharply different ideas of what government should do, although in some cases
(for example, the ISIL terrorist organization), one or both platforms did not offer
policy details. The sharp differences between the platforms on most of the issues are
somewhat uncommon—in most elections, there are a few areas where parties offer
similar proposals, differing only in details.TA B L E
9.1Presidential
Candidates’
Issue Positions
(Selected), 2016The table indicates where Hillary
Clinton and Donald Trump stood on
eight key issues in 2016 as the
presidential election approached in
November: immigration, health care,
gun control, trade, climate change,
Iran, fighting ISIL, and LGBTQ rights.
Source: Compiled by authors from news
coverage and candidate websites.Issue Hillary Clinton Donald Trump
Immigration Comprehensive reform with path to
citizenship for undocumented aliensBuild wall between United States and
Mexico, increase deportations, ban
refugeesHealth care Improve Obamacare Repeal ObamacareGun control Expand background check system Repeal limits on gun ownership and carry
Tr a d e Generally supportive of free trade Renegotiate agreements, limit tradeClimate change Address climate change, stress
renewable energyNo action on climate change, withdraw
from the Paris Climate Accord
Iran Support Iran nuclear agreement Repudiate Iran nuclear agreement
Fighting ISIL Continue existing U.S. effort
against ISILExpand effort against ISILLGBTQ rights End discrimination against LGBTQ
individualsSupport law giving businesses right to
refuse service to LGBTQ individualsFull_10_APT_64431_ch09_296-339.indd 314 16/11/18 1:44 PM