<p>This study explores economic experts’ impact on the voter–party relationship in the electoral phase of political representation, exploring how it conditions representation dynamics across different economic contexts. The paper argues that economic experts define the boundaries within which parties can operate, influencing their responsiveness to voters. This influence is particularly pronounced during economic downturns, impacting policy domains crucial for the government budget and voter preferences. This is explained by parties’ desire to enter into post-electoral coalition negotiations and their belief that voters lean towards fiscal conservatism. Empirically focusing on the Dutch elections of 2012 and 2017, the research traces the manifesto writing process by combining analyses of party manifestoes, news articles, advisory reports, and fourteen semi-structured interviews with party officials and economic experts. This study contributes valuable insights into the political economy of representation and sheds light on the role of experts as a overlooked actor in the electoral phase.</p>