Partisan vs. Nonpartisan: What’s the Difference?

Understanding the fundamental differences between partisan vs. nonpartisan politics is crucial for becoming a better-informed participant in democracy. 

Imagine stepping into the voting booth on Election Day. You see a list of candidates, some with a political party label next to their names and others without. You might be able to immediately understand some candidates’ ideologies because of their party affiliation, while others require more research to understand their stance. This simple difference represents one of the fundamental divides in American politics: partisan vs. nonpartisan elections.

It’s no secret we exist in a time of intense political division, where party loyalty often dictates policy decisions. From social media debates to congressional gridlock, it’s clear that partisan politics dominate national conversations. Yet, outside of high-profile elections, nonpartisan systems play a crucial role in shaping communities at the local level. 

But does this distinction between nonpartisan vs. partisan politics truly impact governance and decision-making? Does partisan loyalty help or hinder effective leadership? And can nonpartisan politics provide a better alternative, or do they create more challenges than solutions? In this article, we’ll explore these questions, breaking down the advantages and disadvantages of each system and examining their influence on voters, candidates, and policy-making.

What’s the Difference Between Partisan vs. Nonpartisan Politics? 

Partisan-based politics center on party allegiance and decision-making, while nonpartisan politics prioritize neutrality and the broader public interest. Each system has strengths and weaknesses that shape the political discourse.

Partisan and nonpartisan political activities include and affect things like: 

• Voting

• Running for office

• Policy creation

Partisan politics thrives on party affiliation, providing candidates with resources and voters with a sense of ideological direction. However, it can also reinforce rigid divisions, making it difficult to achieve compromise. 

Meanwhile, nonpartisan politics offers an alternative approach — one that seeks to prioritize collaboration, practical problem-solving, and policies based on collective needs rather than party agendas. By understanding the dynamics of both nonpartisan vs. partisan approaches, we can contribute meaningfully to the ongoing conversation about effective governance.

What Is Partisan Politics?

Partisanship is having a psychological identification with a major political party. Partisan politics revolve around affiliation with political parties. These parties ultimately become vessels for conveying specific ideologies, acting as beacons of political direction. This alignment shapes political discourse and voter choices. In practice, being a partisan voter may mean voting along party lines at election time, and sometimes, this may feel like the only option. 

What Does It Mean to Be a Partisan Candidate?

Being a partisan candidate means running for office under the banner of an established political party, often as a Republican or Democrat in our two-party system. Ultimately, being a partisan candidate comes with a lot of benefits: voters already generally understand your platform and beliefs because of your ties to a specific party, and you have support, backing, and funding from the party itself. Additionally, you may pick up automatic support from loyal party members even if they don’t really know you, your background, or your beliefs. 

However, constituents are typically not entirely aligned with one party or the other. So, running as a partisan candidate means trying to walk the fine line between sticking to the party script and addressing the needs and wants of your voters. Your campaign needs to attract voters from diverse political beliefs, backgrounds, and demographics. Additionally, as a partisan candidate, you need to toe the party line, making it harder to build your own policy platform that reflects your true beliefs and passions.

Benefits of Partisan Politics

The current American political system is designed (intentionally) to benefit partisans and the parties they align with. The benefits for voters, candidates, and governance as a whole include: 

• Legislative Alignment: Governance is streamlined since elected officials prioritize their party’s platform and align their legislative efforts with the party's goals. 

• Party Cohesion: Partisan politics can create a sense of unity and shared purpose among members. 

• Quick Ballot Discernment: Your job as a voter is simplified since candidates represent broad parties; if you know the party’s platform, you can quickly discern a partisan candidate’s platform, too.

• Higher Voter Engagement: Partisan systems often drive high voter turnout because strong attachments to specific parties prompt active participation in elections. 

Drawbacks of Partisan Politics

Partisan systems are inherently imperfect. Some issues caused by partisan political activities include: 

• Platform Over People: Policy innovation is limited since elected officials focus more on party platforms than the needs of their constituents. 

• Partisan Gridlock: Strong party loyalty can hinder constructive dialogue with opposing viewpoints.

• Political Polarization: Partisan politics foster political polarization. Parties stake distinct positions on specific issues, creating an "us vs. them" mentality. 

• Third-Party Barriers: Partisan elections make it difficult for Independent and third-party candidates to gain traction.

• Emotional Influence: The passionate engagement many partisan voters and politicians feel may overshadow productive policy discussions. 

• Ideological Rigidity: Since partisan policies often remain consistent with party ideologies, they tend to ignore changing societal needs or circumstances.

LEARN MORE: What’s an alternative to partisan vs. nonpartisan candidates? Third parties. See five examples of third parties in the U.S. 

What Is Nonpartisan Politics?

Nonpartisan politics means politics without strong affiliations to specific political parties. Nonpartisan activities depart from the entrenched party-based governance that characterizes partisan systems. They seek to create a space where a more comprehensive spectrum of perspectives guides decisions. The cornerstone of nonpartisan politics is the prioritization of the public interest. Nonpartisan politics typically attempt to mitigate the influence of narrow party agendas to ensure policies align with the needs and aspirations of the actual citizens. This absence of rigid party lines allows nonpartisan politics to be adaptable and responsive to evolving societal dynamics.

What Does It Mean to Be a Nonpartisan Candidate?

Being a nonpartisan candidate means running for office without the backing of a political party. While many elections in the U.S. are partisan, certain local government elections are nonpartisan, such as school boards, judgeships, and municipal offices. 

Unfortunately, nonpartisan candidates don’t have the funding and resources from political parties, making their campaigns much more challenging. Some jurisdictions and elections also have high barriers to entry for nonpartisan candidates. Additionally, without the assumed platform that comes with party affiliation, they need to work hard to define their beliefs and goals to attract voters. 

LEARN MORE: Check out how ranked choice voting helps Independent and third-party candidates.

However, nonpartisan candidates have the opportunity to attract a wider variety of voters since they’re not tied to a party platform. Nonpartisan candidates often run campaigns centered around specific policies and solutions, aligning themselves with their constituents’ real needs and wants. 

Here is how one nonpartisan candidate, Jacob Coleman, described running for office in a nonpartisan race:

“Because it was an at-large seat with no partisan designation, there was value in hitting every single door. You get some questions: ‘Who are you looking for for president? What party do you typically align with?’” Coleman said. “This is a nonpartisan race, and whatever my personal partisan feelings are, play no role in how I will be representing you as a member of your city council.”

Coleman won his city council election in Waconia, Minnesota, on Nov. 5, 2024.

LEARN MORE: See a map of Independent and nonpartisan candidates around the country.

Benefits of Nonpartisan Politics

Nonpartisan politics place impartiality and the broader public good at the forefront of nonpartisan decision-making, leading to many benefits for voters, candidates, and our systems of governance, such as: 

• Fact-Driven Legislation: Nonpartisan systems focus on crafting policies that serve the collective good because decisions are made based on a rigorous evaluation of facts, evidence, and societal needs rather than being swayed by partisan interests.

• Diverse Representation: Nonpartisan politics open the door to various candidates, including Independents, allowing for representation of broader ideas, backgrounds, and expertise.

• Collaborative Governance: Nonpartisan systems encourage collaboration among individuals with varying viewpoints, leading to carefully crafted policies to address complex issues. 

• Merit-Based Elections: The emphasis in nonpartisan elections shifts from party-based governance to individual qualifications and capabilities; voters assess candidates based on their merits, qualifications, and proposed policies.

Drawbacks of Nonpartisan Politics 

No political system is entirely perfect, and nonpartisan politics are no different. Some challenges with nonpartisan political activities include: 

• Slowed Decision-Making: Without strong party affiliations, swift actions can be difficult since each decision requires a dedication to open dialogue and compromise.

• Issue-Focused Campaigns: Nonpartisan campaigns must be issue-centric. Candidates need to effectively communicate their stances on issues because they can’t rely on the clear party platforms of partisan elections. 

• Higher Voter Responsibility: Voters have to be diligent and do engaged research since party cues are absent.

LEARN MORE: Explore the pros and cons of nonpartisan ballots.

Conclusion: Nonpartisan vs. Partisan Politics for Voters

The core difference between partisan and nonpartisan politics revolves around their stance on party influence. Party platforms act as guidelines for both voters and legislators in partisan-based politics. These platforms often lead to political bias and cause elected officials to push for policies that align with their party rather than their constituents’ needs. On the other hand, nonpartisan systems prioritize political neutrality, striving to put the broader public interest ahead of any specific party's agenda. This distinction sets the tone for how policies are formed and executed.

In our current system, most elections and political activities are partisan. The only way to bridge gaps and find common ground is through bipartisanship. However, bipartisan collaboration can lead to compromises that may only partially address complex issues. Nonpartisan politics, by design, encourage collaboration across a wider political spectrum. This approach can lead to more comprehensive solutions incorporating many viewpoints, potentially mitigating the need for extreme compromise.

Ultimately, the United States makes it challenging for nonpartisan, Independent, and third-party candidates to gain momentum in large-scale elections. But, it’s only through the ideals nonpartisan candidates stand for — collaboration, informed decision-making, and a commitment to addressing real challenges head-on — that our political systems can better serve the interests of the people they represent.