The Median Voter Theorem

The Median Voter Theorem suggests that in a majority rule voting system, candidates tend to prefer policies close to the preferences of the median voter—the person whose views are in the middle of the political spectrum. This is because to win, candidates need to appeal to the largest share of voters, and the median voter represents a pivotal point for majority support. As a result, over time, candidates often move toward the center to attract this critical voter, making their policies more moderate than they might be if only targeting their core supporters.