This　article　explores　the　influence　of　partisan　conflict　on　innovation　using　panel　data　of　48　mainland　US　states　over　the　period　from　1992　to　2013.　A　novel　indicator　of　the　US　partisan　conflict,　first　proposed　by　Professor　Marina　Azzimonti,　is　employed.　The　nonlinear　nexus　is　tested　by　accommodating　cubic　polynomial　functional　forms.　Results　show　that　the　relationship　between　partisan　conflict　and　innovation　presents　an　inverted　N-shape　with　two　turning　points.　That　is,　the　effect　might　change　with　partisan　conflict.　To　further　study　the　heterogeneous　impact　of　partisan　conflict　across　different　economic　development　levels,　this　article　divides　these　states　into　high-　and　low-income　groups.　Subsample　analysis　concludes　that　the　relationship　between　partisan　conflict　and　innovation　is　inverted　N-shaped　in　both　high-　and　low-income　groups.　A　comparative　analysis　of　the　turning　points　between　these　two　groups　is　conducted.　The　findings　contribute　to　previous　studies　in　identifying　the　role　of　partisan　conflict　in　innovation.