The primary election study 2024 dataset on U.S. Senate primary elections

Area of Science:

• Political Science
• American Politics
• Survey Methodology

Background:

• Existing election surveys often lack contemporaneous data collection during primary elections.
• There is a need for datasets with sufficient statistical power to analyze primary electorates.
• Understanding voter behavior in U.S. primary elections is crucial for democratic accountability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and describe the Primary Election Study (PES) dataset.
• To provide a comprehensive resource for studying voter behavior, attitudes, and decision-making in U.S. primary elections.
• To address limitations in existing election survey data.

Main Methods:

• The Primary Election Study (PES) surveyed 8124 respondents in California, Michigan, and Nevada during the 2024 U.S. Senate primary elections.
• Data collection included representative samples and oversamples of likely primary voters, with validated turnout measures.
• The survey captured detailed information on candidate evaluations, issue priorities, partisan attitudes, and political engagement.

Main Results:

• The PES dataset provides validated turnout data, distinguishing reported intentions from actual participation.
• It offers robust measures for analyzing statewide populations, likely primary electorates, and combined samples using provided survey weights.
• The data enables contemporaneous analysis of voter preferences aligned with primary election timing.

Conclusions:

• The PES dataset is a valuable resource for research on electoral behavior, political polarization, representation, and democratic accountability.
• It facilitates methodological replication and serves as a teaching tool for political science.
• The study enhances the capacity for in-depth analysis of primary election dynamics and voter decision-making.