John F. Reynolds is an associate professor of history at the University of Texas at San Antonio. He received his B.A. and M.A. from Michigan State University and his Ph.D. from Rutgers University. He is the author of Testing Democracy, Electoral Behavior and Progressive Reform in New Jersey, 1880-1920 and has published articles in the Journal of American History, Social Science History, Historical Methods, and The Historian.

“Impressively researched, analytically sophisticated, persuasively argued, this book revises much of what scholars have believed about American political parties and political reform around the turn of the twentieth century. By carefully examining the interaction between party structures and political candidates, John Reynolds clarifies the evolution of nominating practices from the convention system to the direct primary and more broadly illuminates the disputed relationship between behavioral and institutional changes in American politics. Both historians and political scientists will welcome this fresh and provocative work.” Peter H. Argersinger, Southern Illinois University

• 1. Introduction; 2. The search for harmony; 3. Emergence of the hustling candidate; 4. Coping with competition; 5. The pivot of reform; 6. The direct primary in the reform tradition.

John F. Reynolds is an associate professor of history at the University of Texas at San Antonio. He received his B.A. and M.A. from Michigan State University and his Ph.D. from Rutgers University. He is the author of Testing Democracy, Electoral Behavior and Progressive Reform in New Jersey, 1880-1920 and has published articles in the Journal of American History, Social Science History, Historical Methods, and The Historian.

“Impressively researched, analytically sophisticated, persuasively argued, this book revises much of what scholars have believed about American political parties and political reform around the turn of the twentieth century. By carefully examining the interaction between party structures and political candidates, John Reynolds clarifies the evolution of nominating practices from the convention system to the direct primary and more broadly illuminates the disputed relationship between behavioral and institutional changes in American politics. Both historians and political scientists will welcome this fresh and provocative work.” Peter H. Argersinger, Southern Illinois University

• 1. Introduction; 2. The search for harmony; 3. Emergence of the hustling candidate; 4. Coping with competition; 5. The pivot of reform; 6. The direct primary in the reform tradition.

John F. Reynolds is an associate professor of history at the University of Texas at San Antonio. He received his B.A. and M.A. from Michigan State University and his Ph.D. from Rutgers University. He is the author of Testing Democracy, Electoral Behavior and Progressive Reform in New Jersey, 1880-1920 and has published articles in the Journal of American History, Social Science History, Historical Methods, and The Historian.

“Impressively researched, analytically sophisticated, persuasively argued, this book revises much of what scholars have believed about American political parties and political reform around the turn of the twentieth century. By carefully examining the interaction between party structures and political candidates, John Reynolds clarifies the evolution of nominating practices from the convention system to the direct primary and more broadly illuminates the disputed relationship between behavioral and institutional changes in American politics. Both historians and political scientists will welcome this fresh and provocative work.” Peter H. Argersinger, Southern Illinois University

• 1. Introduction; 2. The search for harmony; 3. Emergence of the hustling candidate; 4. Coping with competition; 5. The pivot of reform; 6. The direct primary in the reform tradition.