Differential candidate selection in multilevel states

An analysis of inclusiveness and centralisation levels in Spain

Abstract

This article focuses on inclusivity and centralisation processes in political candidate selection, using survey data with representative samples of nationally, regionally and locally elected politicians in elections between 2015 and 2018. It argues that there are some candidate selection strategies that are based on territorial differences. The analysis shows that while different candidate selection strategies may coexist in multilevel environments, the relationship between territorial decentralisation and candidate selection strategies is not necessarily additive.

Party primaries are more commonly used for selecting candidates in regional and local chambers, while the strategies used to select candidates at the national level are as decentralised as they are at the regional level. These results support the importance of analysing territorial levels in order to understand the differences in the use of selection strategies.