Does Quality Count? Considering Candidates in U.S. Senate Elections, 1980-2022

• In Event: Rethinking the Roles of Individual Candidates and Their Attributes

Abstract

Recent research shows a sharp decline in candidate experience among elected members of the House of Representatives since the 1980s. In this project we assess whether a similar decline has manifested in Senate races. We test this proposition using original data collected on the backgrounds of all Democratic and Republican Senate candidates running from 1980-2022, including candidates who ultimately did not win their party’s nomination. The results of our study have stark implications for assessing institutional differences between the House and Senate as well as changes in the ability of American parties to control nominations.

Authors

• Isaac Hale, Occidental College

• Carlos Algara, Claremont Graduate University

• Byengseon Bae, Claremont Graduate University

• Edward Headington, Claremont Graduate University

• Michael Heseltine, University of Amsterdam