Quality Challengers in Senate Primary Elections, 1956-2020 – UROP Spring Symposium 2021

Quality Challengers in Senate Primary Elections, 1956-2020

Katharine Alltop

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Pronouns: She, her, hers

Research Mentor(s): Jason Byers, Postdoc
Research Mentor School/College/Department: Center for Political Studies, College of Literature, Science, and the Arts
Presentation Date: Thursday, April 22, 2021
Session: Session 3 (1pm-1:50pm)
Breakout Room: Room 5
Presenter: 4

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Abstract

Current research on U.S Senate elections has primarily been focused on general elections. Due to this, the project is expanding election research by examining primary elections and the factors that influence candidate emergence. In order to compile all of the primary election statistics, data was collected from CQ Voting Collections for each primary in all fifty states from 1956 to 2020. After information pertaining to the election was collected, such as the cote totals and percentages each candidate received, then categorical data were collected to help assess the quality of each challenger. Each Candidate’s occupation was collected from Newspapers.com and coded to signify their level of prior electoral experience. The data will be analyzed to assess the quality of each challenger and to examine the difference between amateur candidates and experienced candidates. This research will likely have implications on senatorial campaigns and experienced candidates. This research will likely have implications on senatorial campaigns and other features of senate races such as funding and election predictions.

Authors: Katharine Alltop
Research Method: Library/Archival/Internet Research

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