Welcome back to Positively Politics, the show that breaks down the often complicated and negative world of politics in a straightforward, academically rooted way. In this episode, Dr. Lara Marerfield-Wilson follows up on her recent primary elections discussion by cracking open the playbook on political conventions.

While it is a common misconception that conventions have evolved into nothing more than idealized, multi-million dollar pep rallies, Dr. Marerfield-Wilson dives deep into the data to show they still hold a crucial place in the election lifecycle. From the local weekend events to the massive national spectacles, this episode explores the history, the mechanisms, and the surprising amount of power that party delegates still yield. Plus, we take a look at the legal outliers—examining how states like Indiana, Michigan, and South Dakota legally mandate conventions to nominate specific statewide candidates outside of the regular primary system.

Whether you are trying to make sense of the upcoming 2026 midterm geography or looking ahead to the road to 2028, tune in to discover what is so conventional—and unconventional—about the modern political convention.

In this episode of Positively Politics, host Dr. Laura Merrifield Wilson breaks down the shifting dynamics of the current congressional midterm landscape. She introduces the Cook Political Report's Partisan Voting Index to evaluate the safety and competitive outlook of current House and Senate seats. Dr. Wilson also provides historical context on how public perception can shift power during midterms. Finally, she highlights the direct impact of President Trump’s "revenge tour" and his endorsement strategy on high-profile primary elections in Texas and Kentucky.

Welcome back to Positively Politics with Dr. Laura Merrifield Wilson, Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Indianapolis! We are officially in the thick of the primary election season, and in this episode, Dr. Wilson pulls back the curtain on how political parties actually select the candidates who make it to your November ballot.

Ever wonder where the primary system came from? Dr. Wilson traces the 130-year history of American primaries, charting the fascinating democratic shift away from the "smoke-filled rooms" of old-school party conventions to the voter-driven ballots we use today. We dive deep into the political science of primary elections, breaking down the mechanics of open, closed, partially open, and even the now-unconstitutional blanket primaries. You'll learn about the "bimodal distribution" of voters, exploring why primary turnouts tend to draw the most passionate, ideologically driven partisans rather than moderates.

The episode also tackles the strategic timeline of campaigns, explaining why the calendar order of state primaries is a massive deal for presidential races but carries very little weight in congressional midterms. Finally, Dr. Wilson connects the dots to recent headlines, discussing how recent Supreme Court decisions on redistricting (like the 11th-hour map battles in Louisiana and Alabama) alter the playing field. She also highlights the powerful, often quiet impact of partisan gerrymandering—revealing why, in heavily one-sided districts, the primary election is actually the real race where the winner is decided.

Tune in for a straightforward, academically rooted, and incredibly timely breakdown of how our two-step voting system shapes American democracy!