Government procurement isn't always competitive. This research examines partisan favoritism in U.S. federal contracts during 2003-2015.

Data & Methods:

New data on government contracts from 2003 to 2015 was analyzed using statistical methods to identify patterns of noncompetitive awarding and firm turnover.

Key Findings:

• Executive departments, especially those with more politicized structures at the office level, awarded significantly more noncompetitive contracts.

• There's evidence that politically responsive agencies show favoritism in battleground states during election cycles.

• A shift in White House party affiliation influenced contract outcomes only within highly politicized agency units.

Implications:

Agency designs limiting appointee representation reduce political favoritism, suggesting institutional structures matter for controlling partisan influence.