What is the coattail effect in elections?

The coattail effect refers to the phenomenon where voters are more likely to choose candidates from the same political party as a popular leader at the top of the ballot. This often occurs during elections where a strong gubernatorial, congressional, or presidential candidate draws voters towards their party's other candidates, potentially leading to increased success for those candidates down the ballot.

The effectiveness of the coattail effect typically hinges on the popularity and appeal of the leader, as well as the general political climate at the time of the election. If a party's candidate for a high-profile office is well-regarded, it can influence voters to extend their support to other candidates from the same party, enhancing their chances of winning.

The other choices fail to encapsulate the essence of the coattail effect: the second choice discusses candidates opting out of campaigns, which doesn't relate to voter influence; the third choice refers to non-voter turnout affecting election outcomes, which is a different concept entirely; and the fourth choice involves candidates running independent campaigns, diverging from party alignment and thus not contributing to the coattail effect.