Candidate ideology and electoral success in congressional elections

Jamie L. Carson () and Ryan D. Williamson ()
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Jamie L. Carson: University of Georgia
Ryan D. Williamson: American Political Science Association

Public Choice, 2018, vol. 176, issue 1, No 10, 175-192

Abstract: Abstract In examining the factors that contribute to electoral success in congressional elections, legislative scholars often consider the actions of elected representatives; however, other research suggests that one must consider what challengers are (or are not) doing as well. For instance, inexperience and poor funding can significantly inhibit challenger success. We expand this list of potential shortcomings by arguing that ideological congruence with a constituency may be another factor in explaining challenger defeat. Using ideology measures derived from campaign contributions, we find that unsuccessful challengers in the U.S. House are generally more extreme than those who win, but ideological extremity is not a disadvantage to those seeking to represent an extreme constituency. More importantly, our existing political institutions may actually serve to mitigate the already high levels of partisan polarization in Congress.

Keywords: Elections; Polarization; U.S. House (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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DOI: 10.1007/s11127-017-0492-2

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