The Politics of Congressional Elections - Paperback

by Jamie L. Carson (Author), Gary C. Jacobson (Author)

The Politics of Congressional Elections is the most authoritative and accessible introduction available on congressional elections and the electoral process. By pairing historical data analysis and original research with fundamental concepts of representation and responsibility, Carson and Jacobson help students develop the tools to evaluate Congress, as well as their own role in the electoral process.

The eleventh edition offers an engaging examination of congressional candidates, campaigns, and elections by incorporating coverage of the most recent elections and the changing roles of voters, incumbents, challengers, and campaign contributions. This edition also highlights the impact of the January 6th insurrection, inflation and the economy, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, infrastructure legislation, and the narrowing majorities in both chambers. Brought completely up-to-date with the latest data from the American National Election Study, the Cooperative Election Study, and the Federal Election Commission, and including coverage and analysis of the 2020 and 2022 elections, this seminal work continues to offer a systematic account of what goes on in congressional elections. Moreover, the authors' framing demonstrates how electoral politics reflect and shape other components of the American political system, with profound consequences for representative government.

Key revision highlights include:

• Updated coverage through the 2022 elections including congressional primaries
• Expanded analysis of campaign finance and voter behavior in recent elections
• Updated figures and tables, with color versions available in the e-book and PowerPoint slides
• Greater emphasis on nationalized politics and a return to more party-centered elections
• Enhanced analysis of congressional elections data back to the pre-Civil War era.

Author Biography

Jamie L. Carson is the UGA Athletic Association Professor of Public and International Affairs II in the Department of Political Science at the University of Georgia. He received his PhD from Michigan State University in 2003, where he was a fellow in the Political Institutions and Public Choice Program. Carson's research interests include American politics with a specific emphasis on the U.S. Congress, congressional elections, separation of powers, and American political development. His most recent books include Nationalized Politics: Evaluating Electoral Politics Across Time (with Joel Sievert and Ryan Williamson) and Change and Continuity in the 2020 and 2022 Elections (with John Aldrich, Brad Gomez, and Jennifer Merolla).

Gary C. Jacobson is Distinguished Emeritus Professor of Political Science at the University of California, San Diego. He received his PhD from Yale University in 1972 and has served on the Council of the American Political Science Association and on the Board of Overseers of National Election Studies. Jacobson's field of interest is American national politics, with a subfield focus on Congress and congressional elections, and his current research is on the electoral basis of partisan polarization in Congress. Among books he has authored or coauthored are Money in Congressional Elections, The Electoral Origins of Divided Government, and The Logic of American Politics.