This study examines why some American states experience more competitive gubernatorial and senatorial primaries than others. A number of possible explanatory variables are isolated and related to state primary divisiveness. Multiple regression results reveal that the level of primary competition in a state's gubernatorial and senatorial contests is to a large degree determined by five factors: how often incumbents seek reelection; the partisan balance of the state; whether the party organization endorses primary candidates; whether the states holds a blanket primary; and the state's population.
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