Spectrum News Features Jacob Neiheisel on Rising Party Loyalty in Local Elections
Associate Professor Jacob Neiheisel, Department of Political Science, was featured in Spectrum which reported on how party loyalty influences local elections.
In Spectrum News, Jacob Neiheisel discussed the growing influence of party loyalty in local elections. He highlighted the decline of “ticket-splitting” and pointed to political polarization and the shrinking landscape of local news as key reasons why national politics now shape voting behavior at every level.
Neiheisel also noted that local elections are increasingly shaped by national politics, as voters rely less on local news and more on national outlets for information.
Neiheisel explained that this shift makes it harder for people to learn about local candidates and issues, often leading them to vote strictly along party lines. He added that while stronger party loyalty can increase voter turnout, it can also mean that many voters have less understanding of the choices on their local ballots.
