Search Results for: Carson Jamie L

Candidate Quality, the Personal Vote, and the Incumbency Advantage in Congress

If democracy requires rotation in power, then the American Congress may not be all that democratic. In 1998, 2000, and 2002, over ninety-six percent of House incumbents who have sought reelection have won. These facts are clear.1
What is less clear is the source of this incumbency advantage. Previous research has suggested three answers. First, perhaps [...]