Political Science, Department of
Department of Political Science: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research
First Advisor
Geoffrey M. Lorenz
Date of this Version
12-2025
Document Type
Thesis
Citation
A thesis presented to the faculty of the Graduate College at the University of Nebraska in partial fulfillment of requirements for the degree of Master of Arts
Major: Political Science
Under the supervision of Professor Geoffrey M. Lorenz
Lincoln, Nebraska. December 2025
Abstract
Presidents have a strong desire to lead their parties to victory in elections. However, relatively little attention has been paid to their ideological stances in legislative elections. This contrasts with extensive research on the ideological strategies of parties and candidates who directly compete for office. How do presidents adjust their ideological positions in legislative elections? This study examines the institutional dynamics surrounding presidents, focusing on their dual responsibilities and the role of legislative elections as a referendum on the presidency. It also considers presidential popularity as a factor that influences these dynamics. I argue that presidents are more likely to moderate their ideological stances during legislative elections, but popular presidents are less inclined to do so. To test these hypotheses, I apply the WORDFISH algorithm to South Korean presidential speeches to measure ideological positions and track shifts during legislative elections. The results show that progressive presidents engage in ideological moderation in legislative elections, but refrain from doing so when their approval ratings are high. This study is the first to explore how presidents act as electoral figures in terms of ideological strategy, even when their own re-election is not directly at stake. More broadly, it demonstrates how political elites navigate institutional constraints while continuing to pursue strategic goals.
Advisor: Geoffrey M. Lorenz
Comments
Copyright 2025, Doyeon Park. Used by permission