Quantitative analysis
Incumbents, challengers, and campaign money
- Unit 5
- 4 points
- About 20 minutes
You read data in a table, graph or map, find a pattern or trend, draw a conclusion, and connect the data to a political principle, institution, process or behavior. On the exam: Question 2 of 4 in the free-response section (1 hour 40 minutes for all four, 50% of your score).
The question and its sources
The table shows results for incumbent members of the House of Representatives who ran for reelection in four consecutive general elections. Use the table to answer parts A, B, C, and D.
House Incumbents Seeking Reelection and Average Campaign Spending
| Election | Type of election | Incumbents seeking reelection | Incumbents reelected | Reelection rate (%) | Average incumbent spending ($ millions) | Average challenger spending ($ millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Election 1 | Presidential year | 390 | 371 | 95.1 | 1.9 | 0.4 |
| Election 2 | Midterm | 385 | 353 | 91.7 | 2.1 | 0.6 |
| Election 3 | Presidential year | 395 | 381 | 96.5 | 2.4 | 0.5 |
| Election 4 | Midterm | 380 | 345 | 90.8 | 2.6 | 0.9 |
Source: Hypothetical data
Suggested time: 20 minutes
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Part (a)
1 pointIdentify the election in which challengers spent the most on average.
0 / 2,500 characters
Part (b)
1 pointDescribe a difference between incumbent and challenger spending shown in the table.
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Part (c)
1 pointDraw a conclusion about the relationship between challenger spending and incumbent reelection rates shown in the table.
0 / 2,500 characters
Part (d)
1 pointExplain ONE advantage other than fundraising that helps House incumbents win reelection.
0 / 2,500 characters
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