Party Identification at Multiple Levels of Government

Data from a local and a national survey suggest that mixed party identifiers- persons with divergent party identifications at different levels of government-represent an analytically useful addition to current party-identification classifications. Local identifications contribute disproportionately to these mixed patterns. Mixed identifiers are a hybrid type. They tend to be as highly politicized as strict partisans, but they vote more like consistent Independents. More mixed than consistent identifiers seem to be changing their basic party identifications. Federalism appears to be a contributing factor in weakening partisan loyalties and in shifting party affiliations.