WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a series of reports this week, University of Minnesota political scientist Eric Ostermeier focuses on the importance of incumbency in Minnesota’s U.S. House races.
Part 1 focuses on Republican Rep. Michele Bachmann and two-term GOPers. Ostermeier notes that only two such incumbents have been defeated since Minnesota became a state. The last time it happened was in 1944.
Part 2 examines the extent that incumbency advantage increases the longer representatives have remained in Washington.
Part 3 looks at whether incumbents are any safer today than during most of Minnesota’s electoral history. And you’ll have to click here to find out the answer to that.
Comments (1)
I wish you would boil it up a bit rather than referring to the link(s)#1 & #3. Fascinating, readable, with a lot of history and fun for specualtion. I know I have been cricized for this but Luther and Gerry S. were in a volatile district with demographic and population changes. The question is, is the 6th district still volatile? I don’t know enough about earlier third party history but we have a different mix now. Elaborate on the UM study if possible. Good work.