More leftist/liberal/New York Times wordity.
Take away the ajectives and adverbs of progressive wordity, and you get (including, properly, apt replacement of "they" - where the NYT authors failed at grammar):
Leaders of the Republican establishment, alarmed by the Tea Party candidates, are pushing [the Republican] party to rethink how it chooses nominees and advocating changes [leaders of the Republican establishment] say would result in the selection of contenders.The push comes as the national Republican Party is grappling with divisions over its identity and image, and [leaders of the Republican establishment] complain that conservatives are damaging the party with tactics like the government shutdown.
The debate intensified on Wednesday after Kenneth T. Cuccinelli II, the conservative Republican candidate for governor of Virginia, lost a close race in which Democrats highlighted his opposition to abortion, his views on contraception, and [his views on] immigration policy.
The [leaders of the Republican establishment] pushing for changes want to replace state caucuses and conventions, like the one that nominated Mr. Cuccinelli, with a primary system that [leaders of the Republican establishment] believe will draw Republicans and produce candidates.
[oops:]
“ajectives”
... REALLY?!