Elections and Campaigns

Presidential Elections Exploration Announcement/Press Conference Money, Organization, Strategy and Themes Primary Elections and caucuses: closed, open and blanket primaries Nominating Conventions Campaigning and the General Election The Electoral College (270 electoral votes needed to win)

General Characteristics of Running for Federal Office Congress has a 93% incumbency rate Safe districts House seats are less contested than Senate or Governor The coattail effect Technology has caused all campaigns to go up in cost Campaigns are now concentrated on media Negative campaigns attacking opponent work more often than not

House and Senate Elections Incumbents rarely challenged in primaries Open seats – must have personal money, organization, timing, consultants Name recognition and high visibility are the keys to success Why do incumbents win??? Franking privilege Constituent service Free press coverage Seniority and “plums” of committee assignments Senate elections are more visible, more expensive

Campaign Finance Reform Federal Elections Campaign Act (FECA) 1974: There are federal matching funds if candidate receives at least 5% of the votes cast $1,000 limit for individuals $5,000 limit for corporations $25,000 limit for all campaigns for all individuals Buckley v. Valeo 1976 Spending limits established by FECA were unconstitutional and violated the First Amendment’s guarantee of freedom of expression Bipartisan Campaign Finance Reform Act (BRCA) Banned the use of “soft” money and increasing the 1974 limits A result of BCRA was the formation of “527” political organizations Citizens United v. Federal Elections Committee 2010