This study investigates how partisan endorsements influence officials' interest in policies.
Context:
The research partners with a non-profit to examine policy learning during a campaign promoting new policies among US local representatives.
Methodology & Intervention:
Researchers randomly assigned whether the initiative was endorsed by co-partisans, out-partisans, or both parties.
Key Findings:
- Legislators showed significantly greater interest when endorsements came from members of their own party.
- Bipartisan initiatives attracted less interest compared to policies backed solely by one side.
- The partisan effect on interest remained strong even in competitive districts.
Implications:
The results indicate that ideological preferences do not entirely explain how partisanship affects policy learning. This field experiment demonstrates a clear causal role for party alignment in driving officials' engagement with specific policies.
