Few studies have examined how citizens respond when their political party reverses its position on key issues. This research uses a quasi-experimental panel study of two major welfare policy shifts in Denmark to show that citizens' opinions changed immediately and substantially, sometimes against previously held views.
Context: A sudden reversal occurred with two prominent welfare policies.
Methodology: We analyzed a five-wave panel survey collected just around these events.
Key Finding: Policy opinion changes happened instantly despite contradicting voters' existing beliefs.
Implication: These findings advance the literature on partisan elite influence by demonstrating real-world relevance.
