Date of Graduation

5-2025

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts in Political Science

Degree Level

Undergraduate

Department

Political Science

Advisor/Mentor

Sebold, Karen

Committee Member

Dowdle, Andrew

Second Committee Member

Hammond, Kelly

Third Committee Member

Holland, Edward

Abstract

While experts and laymen alike have agreed that United States politics have become more polarized over the last few decades, there are few answers about what has driven that polarization, as well as how that polarization has affected the campaign system. In addition, changes to campaign finance as a result of Citizens United v. Federal Elections Commission, 558 US 310 (2010) altered the ways that money could be raised and spent to support or oppose candidates. The effects of these changes in presidential election campaigns have been well documented. This research will investigate changing trends in campaign finance in United States Senate elections amongst Republican candidates, with a particular emphasis on understanding if and how a candidate’s ideological positions affect how their campaign committees and outside groups raise funds. This research will cover election cycles from 2012, 2016, and 2020 Elections. By studying several election cycles, this research will show whether there are trends over time relating to ideological position and campaign finance issues. Using the Stanford University Database on Ideology, Money in Politics, and Elections (DIME), this research will utilize regression analysis to expose any correlations between ideological position and a variety of campaign finance topics, including donation totals, disbursements, independent expenditures, PAC support, and party support. In doing so, this project will provide a glimpse into how ideology and campaign finance are related statistically.

Keywords

Campaign Finance; Polarization; Senate; Elections; Republicans; Citizens United

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