Abstract

CRUZ OLMEDA, Juan  and  DEVOTO, Lisandro Martín. ¿Together or Apart? Assessing the Success of Electoral Coalitions at the Subnational Level in Mexico (2000-2016). Rev. mex. cienc. polít. soc [online]. 2019, vol.64, n.235, pp.289-326. ISSN 0185-1918.  https://doi.org/10.22201/fcpys.2448492xe.2019.235.61872.

According to the theory, parties form coalitions to improve their chances to win elections. However, few works have tried to empirically assess if that premise is correct. Using an original dataset that includes information about 184 legislative elections held in Mexican states (2000-2016), we asses: 1) the level of success of electoral coalitions; 2) for which of the three main Mexican parties this strategy more effective; 3) which combination of partners is more successful. Even if in aggregate terms coalitions tend to be highly effective, the level of success is different for different parties. The pan and the PRD are the more successful parties competing in a coalition rather than alone, even though the PRI is the one that more frequently is part of a coalition. The coalition PRI-PVEM is the one having obtained more victories in absolute terms.

Keywords : electoral coalitions; subnational elections; political parties; electoral success; Mexico.