This is an empirical analysis of intraparty competition of incumbent governors and senators during the period 1956-1976. The historical data demonstrate that little real intraparty competition occurred, that no trends are evident, and that no political party benefited. An analysis of divisive primaries indicates that region, party organization and strength, and the level of interparty competition affect the intensity of primary challenges of incumbent governors and senators. The findings are relevant to current discussions of the decline of American political parties.
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