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Graduation Term
Spring 2026
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Department of Politics and Government: Political Science
Committee Chair
Kerri Milita
Committee Member
L.J Zigerell
Committee Member
Meghan Leonard
Abstract
Over the last six decades, the United States Senate has experienced dramatic shifts in partisan culture, legislative behavior, and institutional norms, yet some traditions have persisted, including the candy desk, a practice in which one Republican senator maintains a desk stocked with sweets for colleagues. Drawing on contact theory, this study examines whether serving as keeper of the candy desk is associated with measurable differences in bipartisan engagement. Using two complementary datasets, I compare senators who have served as candy desk keepers to their peers and assess within-career changes among senators who eventually assume the role. Bipartisanship is quantified using the Lugar Center’s Bipartisan Index, capturing cross-party co-sponsorship from 1993 to 2023, while ideological extremism is controlled using Nokken-Poole scores. The results provide strong evidence that candy desk service is associated with higher average bipartisan behavior across the Senate population, although effects are modest and more variable when examined within the subset of keepers. These findings suggest that informal, low-stakes interpersonal interaction may complement formal institutional mechanisms by fostering familiarity and trust across party lines, contributing to cross-party cooperation even in highly polarized environments. While symbolic traditions do not eliminate partisan divides, this study highlights how repeated interpersonal contact embedded within elite political institutions can produce measurable behavioral effects, advancing our understanding of the subtle ways that social norms and interactions shape legislative outcomes.
Access Type
Thesis-ISU Access Only
Recommended Citation
Ruot, Lydia E., "From Treats to Trust: The Interpersonal Role of the Senate Candy Desk in Bipartisan Dynamics" (2026). Theses and Dissertations. 2310.
https://ir.library.illinoisstate.edu/etd/2310
lydia_master_dataset_ALL SENATE.do (1 kB)
ONLY KEEPERS DATA.dta (13 kB)