Where’s the Party? Presidential Selection Gone Wrong

Are presidential elections as democratic as we believe? How did we go from the Framers' carefully crafted vision to the whirlwind of primaries and national conventions that define our elections today? Over the years, the process of selecting a president has transformed—political parties have risen, conventions have become essential, and now primaries dominate the scene. With growing concerns over corruption, demagogues, and the weakening role of superdelegates, it’s time to ask: Is this truly the best way to choose our nation's leader?

In this episode of This Constitution, host Savannah Eccles Johnston is joined by Byrd Professor of Politics at the University of Virginia, James Ceaser, to dive deep into the evolution of the U.S. presidential selection process. Together, they explore the Framers' original intentions, fears of foreign influence, and the rise of political parties. They also discuss Martin Van Buren’s pivotal role in democratizing the process, the fall of the "King Caucus," and the impact of the Progressive era’s primary system. With a closer look at the modern challenges of populism and party dynamics, this conversation uncovers whether today’s system still serves the democratic ideals it was meant to uphold.

Ready to rethink how we elect our leaders? Tune in to this episode and join the conversation!

In This Episode

• (00:00:03) Introduction to the episode
• (00:01:18) Original intent of the framers
• (00:03:05) Impact of political parties
• (00:03:25) King Caucus explained
• (00:06:00) Breakdown of King Caucus
• (00:07:08) Rise of national party conventions
• (00:09:51) Non-partisan self-selection period
• (00:10:22) Advent of the two-party system
• (00:12:16) Van Buren's influence
• (00:14:27) Conclusion on political parties
• (00:14:53) Martin Van Buren's influence
• (00:15:48) Evolution of presidential election
• (00:16:11) Van Buren's political vision
• (00:17:23) Preventing American aristocracy
• (00:18:49) The national party convention system
• (00:21:40) Corruption in the party system
• (00:22:37) Progressives and political reform
• (00:25:53) Mixed system of primaries and conventions
• (00:27:39) Decline of the old system
• (00:28:13) Dangers of modern primaries
• (00:29:03) The convention formation
• (00:30:17) Concerns of the founders
• (00:30:51) Challenges to reform
• (00:31:15) Superdelegates and party dynamics
• (00:33:11) Decline of superdelegates
• (00:35:16) Trump's unconventional nomination
• (00:36:24) The future of primaries
• (00:36:55) Kamala Harris as a nominee
• (00:39:17) Conclusion on the primary system

About James Ceaser

James W. Ceaser is the Harry F. Byrd Professor of Politics at the University of Virginia, where he also leads the Program on Constitutionalism and Democracy. An accomplished author, he has written several influential works on American politics and political theory, including Presidential Selection, Reconstructing America, and Nature and History in American Political Development.

In addition to his academic contributions, Ceaser frequently writes for popular outlets, such as The Weekly Standard and National Review. He has also served as a presidential appointee to the National Archives Commission.

Throughout his career, Ceaser has held visiting professorships at the University of Florence, the University of Basel, Oxford University, the University of Bordeaux, the University of Rennes, Harvard, and Princeton. In 2015, he was honored with the Bradley Prize.

Beyond his role on the Board of Directors, he serves as a member of the Academic Advisory Council for the Jack Miller Center.