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    Follow the Party: Super PACs and the Political Party Network

    Cover for Follow the Party: Super PACs and the Political Party Network
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    View/Open: Koch_georgetown_0076D_14174.pdf (4.2MB) Bookview

    Creator
    Koch, Justin Alan
    Advisor
    Noel, Hans
    Abstract
    In 2010, two U.S. court decisions enabled political groups to raise and spend money in unlimited amounts. These groups, called Super PACs, are known for the vast sums of money they spend in elections. However, less attention has been paid to the effects that these groups have had on the political party network. This dissertation addresses this disparity by searching for party behavior among Super PACs. It draws on an original qualitative dataset, a social network dataset pairing Super PACs with the candidates they support, and finally a dataset of Super PAC spending in federal elections from 2010 through 2016.
     
    I find that “single race” groups, which spend money supporting one candidate for a single election, have steadily increased in frequency over time, and are now the most common type. Such groups exist only as an arm of the candidate they support. However, network analysis determined that party groups tend to be the most central. Finally, I found that party group aid was not sufficient to improve election outcomes, while overall group aid was an excellent predictor of a candidate’s electoral success.
     
    This dissertation offers support for recent political party theory, particularly the extended party network, while exploring a heretofore understudied element of U.S. campaign finance.
     
    Description
    Ph.D.
    Permanent Link
    http://hdl.handle.net/10822/1054947
    Date Published
    2019
    Subject
    Political Science; Political science;
    Type
    thesis
    Publisher
    Georgetown University
    Extent
    154 leaves
    Collections
    • Department of Government
    Metadata
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    Georgetown University Seal
    ©2009 - 2023 Georgetown University Library
    37th & O Streets NW
    Washington DC 20057-1174
    202.687.7385
    digitalscholarship@georgetown.edu
    Accessibility