A New York Times analysis reveals that competition in legislative elections has significantly declined, with only 8% of congressional races and 7% of state legislative races being closely contested. This lack of competitiveness is attributed to gerrymandering and the dominance of incumbents, resulting in an electorate that is increasingly polarized. Consequently, primary voters, often more ideologically extreme, have more influence over candidate selection, contributing to legislative bodies that do not accurately reflect public sentiment in the states or the nation as a whole.
"Roughly 90 percent of races are now decided not by general-election voters in November but by the partisans who tend to vote in primaries months earlier."
"Because of partisan and racial gerrymandering, you end up with these skewed results and legislative bodies that don't necessarily reflect the political makeup of either the states or the House of Representatives."
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