Candidate behavior under mixed motives (Q1820653)

This paper presents a spatial election model in which candidates have mixed motives: They care both about winning and about the content of their platforms. The predictions of the model are broadly consistent with what we observe empirically: some elections with convergent candidate positions, and some with divergent positions; the prevalence of elections in which the expected vote shares are not equal; candidates' positions reacting in part to those of their opponents; and candidates seeking a balance between what they believe and what they need to advocate to get elected.