Anthony Fowler

In this conversation, Anthony Fowler, a political scientist and author, explores the intricate dynamics of primary elections and their impact on congressional polarization. He reveals that primaries influence lawmakers' votes only slightly, contributing about 1% to polarization. Anthony discusses how variations in primary timing affect voting behavior, the limited role of primaries versus other polarization forces, and how electability concerns can moderate extreme positions. His insights challenge common assumptions about the significance of primary elections in driving ideological extremes.