First to the Party: The Group Origins of Political Transformation (American Governance: Politics, Policy, and Public Law)

What determines the interests, ideologies, and alliances that make up political parties? In its entire history, the United States has had only a handful of party transformations. __First to the Party__ concludes that groups like unions and churches, not voters or politicians, are the most consistent influences on party transformation. What determines the interests, ideologies, and alliances that make up political parties? In its entire history, the United States has had only a handful of party transformations. __First to the Party__ concludes that groups like unions and churches, not voters or politicians, are the most consistent influences on party transformation.

The United States has scores of potential issues and ideologies but only two major political parties. How parties respond to competing demands for their attention is therefore central to American democracy. First to the Party argues that organized groups set party agendas by invading party nominations to support candidates committed to their interests. Where the nominees then go, the parties also go.

Using in-depth archival research and interviews with activists, Christopher Baylor applies this proposition to the two most important party transformations of the twentieth century: the Democratic Party's embrace of civil rights in the 1940s and 50s, and the Republican Party's embrace of cultural conservatism in the 1980s. The choices made by the parties in these circumstances were less a response to candidates or general electoral pressures than to activist and group influences on nominations. Party change is ultimately rooted in group change, which in turn is ultimately rooted in the coalitional and organizational challenges confronting groups. Baylor surveys the factors that determine whether a coalition is viable, including issue overlap, the approval of their own members and staff, and the ability to reach new audiences. Whether groups succeed in transforming parties depends largely on choosing the right allies and adjusting accordingly.

In moments of profound party change, the prevailing political forces come to light. With its fine-grained analysis of major party change, First to the Party offers new insight into the classic issues confronting parties, representation, and democracy.

The United States has scores of potential issues and ideologies but only two major political parties. How parties respond to competing demands for their attention is therefore central to American democracy. First to the Party argues that organized groups set party agendas by invading party nominations to support candidates committed to their interests. Where the nominees then go, the parties also go. Using in-depth archival research and interviews with activists, Christopher Baylor applies this proposition to the two most important party transformations of the twentieth century: the Democratic Party's embrace of civil rights in the 1940s and 50s, and the Republican Party's embrace of cultural conservatism in the 1980s. The choices made by the parties in these circumstances were less a response to candidates or general electoral pressures than to activist and group influences on nominations. Party change is ultimately rooted in group change, which in turn is ultimately rooted in the coalitional and organizational challenges confronting groups. Baylor surveys the factors that determine whether a coalition is viable, including issue overlap, the approval of their own members and staff, and the ability to reach new audiences. Whether groups succeed in transforming parties depends largely on choosing the right allies and adjusting accordingly. In moments of profound party change, the prevailing political forces come to light. With its fine-grained analysis of major party change, First to the Party offers new insight into the classic issues confronting parties, representation, and democracy. Contents Chapter 1. Building Blocs: Groups and Contested Party Transformations Chapter 2. Overcoming a Troubled History: Civil Rights Groups Seek a Coalition with Labor Chapter 3. Labor’s Interest in a Civil Rights Coalition Chapter 4. Twisting the Donkey’s Tail: How Groups Changed a Reluctant Party Chapter 5. Maintaining the Democratic Trajectory on Civil Rights Chapter 6. Conservative Christians Before the Christian Right Chapter 7. A Christian Right Takes Shape Chapter 8. The First Wave of Cultural Conservative Politics Chapter 9. Eating the Elephant, One Bite at a Time: Influencing a National Party Through State Politics Chapter 10. Conversions: Republican Nominations After Reagan Chapter 11. Other Evidence: Populism and Gay Rights Conclusion Notes Manuscript Sources Index Acknowledgments