Peran Partai Politik Lokal dalam Mendukung Pemilihan Calon Bupati Aceh Utara Tahun 2017

The purpose of this study is to understand and explain the role of local political parties and their obstacles in supporting candidates for Regent/Deputy Regent of North Aceh. Descriptive qualitative research was employed in obtaining the data through interviews, observation, and documentation. Data analysis techniques are taken through data collection, data reduction, data presentation, and concluding (verification). The results reveal that one of the local political parties (Aceh Party) has provided support to the Regent/Deputy Regent candidate H. Muhammad Thaib/Fauzi Yusuf through political participation as a medium for conveying political aspirations between voters and the elected Regent/Deputy Regent candidate, with won victory in the election in 2017. The conclusion is that 3 local political parties (PA, PNA, and PDA) have provided support to four candidate pairs for Regent of North Aceh through political participation as a forum for aspiration and in the form of a successful team. Even though this support has been given, the role of local political parties has not been realized effectively, because there are still obstacles, so that it requires various improvements. The obstacles are low human resources and differences in perceptions resulting in internal conflict with local parties.