Ideological Deviation and Support for Reelection: Party Differences in Senate Races

The relative effectiveness of elections in ensuring ideological accountability of representatives is dependent upon such factors as the extent to which parties are identified with relative ideological positions and the extent to which ideologues can influence the presentation of positions taken by a party's challengers. This study of voter responses to ideological deviation by senators in 1988 and senatorial reelection results, 1974-86, shows that the association between ideological deviation and support for the incumbent is conditioned by party of the incumbent and direction of the deviation. Electorates have held Democrats accountable for deviation to the left of their preferences, but not for deviation to their right. It is unclear that electorates have held Republicans accountable for deviation in either direction.