Getting Elected to Congress

Considering the information above, why is it that the vast majority of the members of Congress have been reelected to multiple terms in both houses?

Incumbency

• Over the past 50 years 90% of House incumbents and 75% of Senate incumbents seeking reelection win.

• Simply being an incumbent is the most important factor in winning a congressional election.

• If Congress as an institution is viewed in such a negative light by the general public why does this happen?

• Most Americans view Congress as an institution negatively but they feel that their Congressman does a good job.

• Incumbents run for Congress by running against it.

Money

• Incumbents are able to raise funds more easily than challengers.

• PAC’s are more willing to contribute to incumbents.

• Incumbents are able to spend more than challengers.

Visibility

• Incumbents benefit from having more name recognition.

• Incumbents attract media attention much more easily than challengers do.

• Most freshmen in Congress benefit from the sophomore surge when they seek reelection the first time.

Constituent Service

• Members of Congress engage in casework.

• Casework – helping individual constituents with specific problems.

• Pork Barrel Politics – Incumbents can steer federal $ to their home state/district.

• Committee Assignments – enable incumbents to engage in pork barrel politics very easily.

Franking

• Incumbents have the privilege of sending free mail to all of their constituents.

• This can include emails and recorded phone messages.

• By pointing out all of the good they are doing the district they are in effect campaigning through this mode of communication.

Gerrymandering

• Congressional districts are redrawn every 10 years.

• Many times these districts are gerrymandered to be “safe” for incumbents.

• Safe District – A congressional district in which the incumbent wins election with 55% or more of the popular vote.

• Gerrymandering of this nature discourages potentially strong challengers.

• Can even be used to defeat an incumbent if the opposing party is in power in the state legislature.

Consequences of the Incumbency Advantage

• Congress contains a large number of experienced leaders. This leads to continuity.

• Continuity discourages radical change and encourages close relationships between legislators and interest groups and lobbyists.

• Since incumbents benefit from campaign finance law there is to real incentive to reform it.