Evaluate the view that Congressional elections are fit for purpose essay plan Edexcel A Level

Congressional elections



Incumbency advantage

 Name recognition
o Susan Collins 2002 elected 58% to 42% but 2014, 68% to 32%
 Joe Manchin 2021, $4.8million in fundraising
 Keep the status quo
o Robert D Byrd served for 51 years (West Virginia)



 2020 Senate – 3 flipped seats
o Alabama to Republican
o Arizona to Democrat
o Colorado to Democrat
 AOC defeated Joseph Crawley (chair of Dem caucus)



Mid-term structure

 Seen as just a referendum on the presidency
 Obama lost Senate 2014
 GW Bush lost both houses 2006 – just 37% approval at the time



 Average Congressional approval ratings are 25%
 Dropped to 18% Jan 2022
 The change in leadership is therefore due to the views on Congress not the Executive



Gerrymandering

 Changes the Representative and Senate
o 2010, GOP launched Operation REDMAP to redraw swing blue states – cost $30m
o In 2011, GOP redrew lines in North Carolina and Pennsylvania – year after,
Democrats won more votes by only won 9 out of 31 seats



 1960s, SC mandated redistricting after each census
 Rucho v Common cause + Lamone v Benisek, SC declined judgement – a matter for state not
federal