Organized interests often strategically target specific members of Congress based on their stance regarding a proposal's success likelihood and institutional influence.

🔍 Targeting Behavior: Contrary to targeting all members equally, interest groups focus efforts on those who are undecided or weak supporters at critical stages.

💡 New Approach Needed: Previous research relied too heavily on observational tactics without experimental testing. This study introduces a novel method: conjoint experiments involving federal lobbyists and policy advocates themselves — providing more nuanced insights.

📊 What the Findings Mean: The results suggest interest groups prioritize members where influence is strategically advantageous for advancing proposals currently blocked or vulnerable in the legislative process.

📌 Implications for Political Science Research: These findings highlight how understanding influence coalitions requires attention to targeted access strategies, particularly those aimed at undecided actors navigating complex political landscapes.