Admission as Party Repair

Parties that publicly acknowledge high‑profile nomination mistakes (e.g., endorsing an unfit incumbent) recover credibility and improve future candidate selection; refusal to admit error entrenches defensive factions and damages long‑term electoral health. Public apologies and institutionalized post‑mortems (open primaries, structured review timelines) can reduce repetition of strategic blunders. — If parties institutionalize admission and accountability after clear failures, they can limit reputational damage, rebuild voter trust, and improve candidate quality across cycles.