Do US congressmembers vote according to their constituents' policy preferences? Previous research suggests incongruent voting occurs on about one-third of roll calls. This article explores why, particularly for Republicans who vote against district majorities more often but aren't punished at the polls.
The Puzzle: Lawmakers vote against public opinion regularly despite being elected by popular vote. The rate is especially high among Republican representatives yet doesn't seem to affect election outcomes.
What We Found: Voters hold two distinct types of political preferences – policy-focused and identity-based symbolic ones. Incongruent voting reflects a disconnect between these dimensions in the US House:
- Policy Alignment: Both parties consider public policy opinions when deciding votes (≈70% alignment).
- Identity Alignment: Lawmakers align with constituents' partisan or group identities more frequently (≈65% alignment), especially among Republicans.
The Argument: This incongruence isn't noise but reflects two dimensions of voter ideology that matter differently for each party. The findings suggest operational representation differs between parties:
- Democrats: Primarily represent policy preferences in their voting patterns.
- Republicans: More strongly represent identity-based symbolic preferences, even when policy alignment would be expected.
How We Did It: Using CCES survey data from 2008-2014 alongside roll-call records and district-level measures. Statistical analysis shows both dimensions significantly influence voting behavior.
