The article examines whether voters prioritize party support when backing candidates during primary elections. Using data from [Dataset Name], it analyzes voting patterns across multiple states and districts, comparing them to general election preferences. The analysis suggests that while parties remain influential, voter motivations differ significantly in primaries versus general elections.

Key Findings:

* Voters show strong partisanship but distinct candidate evaluation criteria during primaries.

* Factors like ideological alignment appear more critical than party loyalty itself in primary selection.

* Different demographic groups express varying degrees of trust and reliance on parties within the primary context.

Implications for Political Science Research:

This study challenges simplistic views of partisanship by demonstrating its conditional relevance. It suggests that political science models must account for election-specific dynamics when assessing party influence.