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The Impact of Incumbent Scandals on Senate Elections, 1972–2016

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  • Nicholas Chad Long

    (Department of Political Science, Global Studies, Environmental Science and Policy, School of Behavioral and Social Sciences, St. Edward’s University, Austin, TX 78704, USA)

Abstract

In recent decades, a growing body of literature focused on the effects of scandals on congressional elections. The studies concluded that scandals decrease candidates’ vote totals, and that certain types of scandals have a more deleterious effect than others. Virtually all of these studies focus on House elections. The obvious differences between the two chambers calls into question the applicability of these findings for Senate elections. This study examines the impact that incumbent scandals had on senatorial elections from 1972 to 2016. Scandals are categorized based on the nature of the transgression in order to determine if the type of scandal made a difference. The results reveal that senators seeking reelection while confronting a scandal suffered a 4% decrease in the popular vote. Scandals involving political misdeeds, financial improprieties, and controversial statements hurt incumbents the most. Scandals also attracted challengers who spent more money against the incumbents.

Suggested Citation

  • Nicholas Chad Long, 2019. "The Impact of Incumbent Scandals on Senate Elections, 1972–2016," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 8(4), pages 1-19, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jscscx:v:8:y:2019:i:4:p:114-:d:220262
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Peters, John G. & Welch, Susan, 1980. "The Effects of Charges of Corruption on Voting Behavior in Congressional Elections," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 74(3), pages 697-708, September.
    2. Beth Miller Vonnahme, 2014. "Surviving Scandal: An Exploration of the Immediate and Lasting Effects of Scandal on Candidate Evaluation," Social Science Quarterly, Southwestern Social Science Association, vol. 95(5), pages 1308-1321, December.
    3. Rundquist, Barry S. & Strom, Gerald S. & Peters, John G., 1977. "Corrupt Politicians and Their Electoral Support: Some Experimental Observations," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 71(3), pages 954-963, September.
    4. Paul Heywood, 1997. "Political Corruption: Problems and Perspectives," Political Studies, Political Studies Association, vol. 45(3), pages 417-435, August.
    5. Kenny, Christopher & McBurnett, Michael, 1994. "An Individual-Level Multiequation Model of Expenditure Effects in Contested House Elections," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 88(3), pages 699-707, September.
    6. Abramowitz, Alan I., 1988. "Explaining Senate Election Outcomes," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 82(2), pages 385-403, June.
    7. Rodrigo Praino & Daniel Stockemer & Vincent G. Moscardelli, 2013. "The Lingering Effect of Scandals in Congressional Elections: Incumbents, Challengers, and Voters," Social Science Quarterly, Southwestern Social Science Association, vol. 94(4), pages 1045-1061, December.
    8. Jacobson, Gary C., 1978. "The Effects of Campaign Spending in Congressional Elections," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 72(2), pages 469-491, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Rienks, Harm, 2023. "Corruption, scandals and incompetence: Do voters care?," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 79(C).

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