### What EPNs Are

Extended Party Networks, conceptualizing political parties as dynamic systems of interest groups collaborating to support candidates.

### A New Look at EPNs

Operationalized by analyzing organized interest contributions across U.S. House races, revealing that partisan community backing signals a candidate's ideological credibility and appeal.

#### How We Measured Support

Using network analysis on campaign data from the 1994–2010 election cycles to detect EPN integration patterns.

### Key Finding: Signal Transmission

EPN coordination significantly overcomes voter uncertainty about challengers' ideologies, enhancing their electoral chances through unified messaging.

#### Evidence

This approach demonstrates that while campaign resources are important, EPN integration provides distinct advantages for challenger success.