Parties Become More Extreme to Attract Voters

New research from Northwestern University shows that U.S. political parties “are becoming increasingly polarized due to their quest for voters — not because voters themselves are becoming more extremist.”

“The research team found that extremism is a strategy that has worked over the years even if voters’ views remain in the center. Voters are not looking for a perfect representative but a ‘satisficing,’ meaning ‘good enough,’ candidate.”