COMPETITIVENESS IN HOUSE AND SENATE ELECTIONS WITH IDENTICAL CONSTITUENCIES

In: Political behavior, Band 6, Heft 1, S. 95-102

Abstract

THE GREATER COMPETITIVENESS OF SENATE ELECTIONS RELATIVE TO HOUSE ELECTIONS HAS BEEN ATTRIBUTED TO BOTH CONSTITUENCY AND NONCONSTITUENCY FACTORS. WHEN CONSTITUENCY FACTORS ARE HELD CONSTANT, HOUSE INCUMBENTS PERFORM SLIGHTLY BETTER AT THE POLLS THAN DO SENATE INCUMBENTS, HOWEVER, THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN HOUSE AND SENATE INCUMBENTS HAVE NOT INCREASED SINCE 1920. ON THE CONTRARY, THE DIFFERENCES HAVE NARROWED SOMEWHAT.