Introduction

The parties-as-networks approach has transformed how we understand American political parties. While most research focused on national-level variations in partisan connections, this study addresses a critical gap by analyzing state-level party networks.

Methodology & Data

Drawing from candidate donation data across 47 states between 2000 and 2016, the article introduces backboning—a novel network analysis technique adapted for political science. This method quantifies relationships among donors at subnational levels.

New Insights

The findings reveal significant partisan network variation both geographically across states and temporally during this period. Partisan alignment patterns differ substantially from national trends, providing a nuanced understanding of how party influence operates differently state by state.

Validation & Significance

These networks are empirically validated for scholarly reliability. Their public availability enables future comparative research examining the relationship between partisan network structure and policy outcomes at subnational levels—a crucial extension to our knowledge base.