MAINTAINING A POLITICAL-PARTY - PROVIDING AND WITHDRAWING PARTY CAMPAIGN FUNDS

Legislative campaign committees have come to play a significant role i n some US states. They raise large sums of money and have the potentia l to play a dominant role in individual races. They also have the pote ntial to shape party fortunes, depending on how well they use these fu nds. The question is: are they able to discipline themselves to use th e resources effectively, To be effective, parties must be able to limi t their spending to close races, and to use their funds to support non -incumbents who may become future party members. Parties must also be able to withdraw funds from incumbents as margins of victory shift. Th is analysis assesses how New York legislative campaign committees dist ribute their money and whether they are able to withdraw funds in subs equent elections from incumbents who do not need them. The years 1984- 90 are analyzed.