ABSTRACT

Why do parties choose to subject themselves to primary elections – or not – and what are the consequences for electability? This chapter examines these two questions through an analysis of primary elections in Latin America and particularly Mexico. It presents an overview of primary elections in Latin America and their progressive adoption as mandatory requirements in a growing number of countries. the chapter looks at the decision about candidate selection procedures through an examination of primaries in Mexico. It shows the results of primary elections for both the ideological positioning of candidates and their ultimate chances of victory. State-level elections show diversity of rules and strategic decision-making as well. Parties do consider the benefits and costs of primary elections when deciding whether or not to use them. Often the pressure to adopt more democratic candidate selection methods came from within the parties themselves.