Combining or Dividing? Examining Party Leadership Fragmentation Around Electoral Leaders in German Länder Elections

Electoral leaders are central figures in modern campaigns for parliamentary elections, embodying their parties and shaping their electoral fortunes. Despite their importance and the effort parties devote to their presentation, little is known about who parties choose as their electoral leaders. Because of their standing in the party organization, party leaders are often considered likely aspirants for this role. Nevertheless, parties frequently choose other individuals to represent them in electoral campaigns. Drawing on a novel dataset of 438 electoral leaders and the holders of the other leadership positions prior to German Länder elections between 1990 and 2022, this study provides insights into how parties allocate top leadership roles around electoral leaders. We distinguish between institutional and personal leadership fragmentation to understand how parties organize their top leadership. Our findings reveal systematic variation in personal leadership fragmentation around electoral leaders, influenced by party size, organizational norms, and prior experience as an electoral leader. Notably, electoral setbacks tend to prompt personal renewal rather than shifts in leadership structures. These insights not only highlight the strategic underpinnings of leadership configurations but also provide a foundation for exploring their broader implications on party strategy and electoral success.