Fast Facts:

• Congressional elections are held every two years in November.
• The most important factor that determines which candidate wins an election is incumbency.
• Incumbents are elected officials who already hold office and running for re-election and they win re-election more than 90% of the time.
• Incumbents usually win (sometimes by a narrower margin) and therefore turnover in Congress usually occurs when members retire.
• Incumbency allows senators and representatives to gain valuable experience and bring some stability to Congress however this may also work to insulate members of Congress from change, making it more difficult for constituents to effect change.
• Senatorial races are usually intense because incumbents, who tend to have higher profiles, are more likely to be held accountable for public policy successes or failures.
• The challengers in senate races are more likely to be known in the political arena because they often draw former representatives or governors.

Comparing US congressional elections with UK parliamentary elections

Congressional Election Campaigns differ from parliamentary elections in the UK as a result of the differing political contexts. The UK is a multiparty system, whereas in the US it is a two party system – this immediately means that third or minor parties in the US have little to no impact (or change to impact) elections. The UK has 12 different political parties represented in parliament, whereas in the US 115th Congress, there were only 2 independents in the Senate. As a result of this (and possibly confusingly) political parties are less important in the USA – candidates don’t need the backing of the party, rather they identify themselves with a party, and political parties in the USA do not fund election campaigns (whereas in the UK parties fund all of the election campaigns of their candidates). Becoming a candidate or ‘getting the nomination’ in the America is an individual effort, not orchestrated by a political party. Media, polling and money are important in every election campaign both sides of the Atlantic, however their importance is heightened in US politics;  today’s candidates spend the most on traditional and social media (the plurality of political ads to appeal to voters’ fears is clear evidence of this). In a congressional election campaign, there will also be people hired to perform campaign tasks, such a media consultants, direct mail firms, polling firms and political technology firms. Again, some of this is evident in UK parliamentary elections, but often they are employed within the political party and the campaign forms part of a national strategy.

Learn more about elections in the UK

Learn more about elections in the USA

Comparing US presidential elections and US congressional elections

Presidential races are more competitive.

• Presidential winner rarely gets more than 55 percent of vote
• Most House incumbents are reelected (more than 90 percent)

Fewer people vote in congressional elections

• Unless election coincides with presidential election
• Gives greater importance to partisan voters (party regulars)

Congressional incumbents can service their constituents.

• Can take credit for governmental grants, programs, and so forth
• President can’t: power is not local

Congressional candidates can duck responsibility.

• “I didn’t do it; the people in Washington did!“ – President is stuck with blame
• But local candidates can suffer when leader’s economic policies fail

Benefit of presidential coattails has decline

• Congressional elections have become largely independent
• Reduces meaning (and importance) of party

Learn more about US congressional elections

Learn more about US presidential elections