Dynamics of challenger quality : introduction -- Challenger quality : conceptualization and measurement : literature review -- Explaining challenger quality : hypotheses and methodology -- Money and challenger quality -- Candidate quality and communication strategy -- Movin' on up : the impact of state legislative term limits on candidate quality in U.S. House elections, 1972-2014 -- States of ambition : aggregate challenger quality in the U.S. States, 1972-2014 -- Explaining the decline in challenger quality, 1972-2014 -- Challenger quality, incumbency advantage and democracy in America -- Conclusion.
Summary:
"In this book, Costas Panagopoulos examines patterns of candidate emergence in congressional elections over the past four decades - specifically, the quality of challengers who seek to unseat U.S. House incumbents, as measured by prior political experience. Panagopoulos demonstrates that fewer and fewer experienced challengers have tossed their hats into the ring since the early 1970s. Inexperienced candidates face an electoral liability that is difficult to overcome. Looking at factors including campaign spending, district-level partisan composition, and institutional reforms such as term limits, Panagopoulos assesses reasons and consequences for this development over time. He points to important implications for the study of congressional elections and democracy in the United States, including reforms in recruitment and candidate selection strategies to heighten electoral competition and ultimately, to enhance democratic representation in Congress. For students and scholars of the US Congress and elections, this book addresses public concern about representation as well"-- Provided by publisher.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.