Politics with Paul #17: Why Incumbents Win Reelection So Often
Why do we hate politicians (particularly Congress) so much yet so often reelect the same ones? The incumbency advantage is a well-documented phenomenon in political science, and 2024 saw sky-high reelection rates for elected officials running for their same seats. Although incumbency advantage can vary by type of office (e.g. Congress, governors) and by state, those already in office tend to have an advantage by virtue of already holding the seat. Why do incumbents generally enjoy an advantage over challengers in this regard? How successful have recent and historical incumbent reelection bids been? That’s what today’s episode dives into. Today’s random question: What is your ideal Thanksgiving meal?
Key Points
- Incumbents in political offices enjoy high reelection rates due to factors like name recognition and established connections, despite widespread public dissatisfaction with government performance.
- The Fenno Paradox explains why congressional incumbents often win reelection despite low approval ratings for Congress as a whole, highlighting the disconnect between general discontent and localized support for individual representatives.
- Incumbency reelection rates can vary depending on factors such as the type of office, the kind of election (e.g. presidential vs. midterm), and which state they happen in, but generally speaking incumbents win at high rates.
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Transcript
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