What does this mean for representation? Candidates are well aware of their party's positions on immigration and social welfare issues. Thus, on average, they can act in line with their party's positions and represent them to their voters and the public.

We found that candidates were relatively accurate in perceiving their party's positions. Ideological distance and perceived differences between themselves and their party influence perceptual accuracy regarding the immigration issue but not the social welfare issue.

Accurate perception is a necessary precondition for substantive representation. Only candidates who know their party’s position can effectively represent it and act responsively.

Using @gles.bsky.social Candidate Study 2021, we analyzed candidates’ perceptions of their own party’s positions on two central issues: immigration & social welfare. Moreover, the impact of ideological distance and perceived divergent issue positions between themselves and their parties is assessed.