Candidates and Campaigns
What Trump and Mamdani Have in Common (and How They Are Different)
The political history of the United States in 2025 is defined by a stark convergence of opposing forces. In the final months of the year, following…
Candidates and Campaigns
Candidates and campaigns cover how people seek public office and the rules that govern their efforts. Candidates must qualify, raise money, and persuade voters. Federal and state laws, election agencies, and courts set limits on money, speech, and conduct along the way.
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September 26last updated
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Latest in Candidates and Campaigns
General Elections
Why Americans Keep Re-electing Congresspeople They Dislike
Voters are unhappy with their government. This anti-incumbency sentiment, defined as a desire to vote out officeholders, is a constant in U.S. elections. Polling frequently captures…
General Elections
Does the Economy Always Decide Elections?
"It's the economy, stupid!" James Carville's famous phrase from Bill Clinton's 1992 campaign became an iron law of American politics. The theory seems obvious: economic conditions…
Candidates and Campaigns
Do Presidential Debates Change Elections? What the Evidence Shows
Every four years, the American political landscape braces for its marquee event: the presidential debate. The news media often frames these encounters as a high-stakes national…
Topics in Candidates and Campaigns
Rules of conduct
Campaign Ethics covers standards for candidates and public workers. Campaign Finance Rules and Disclosure covers how money is raised, spent, and reported, and Political Advertising covers how campaign messages are regulated.
Reaching the ballot
Getting on the Ballot covers the steps a candidate or party takes to appear before voters.
All Articles on Candidates and Campaigns
The Hatch Act: How Federal Rules Ban Government Workers from Politics
The Hatch Act of 1939, formally known as "An Act to Prevent Pernicious Political Activities," is a federal statute that create a wall between…
Political Advertising vs. Issue Advocacy: What Every Voter Should Know
Election season brings a flood of messages competing for your attention and your vote. Television commercials, social media posts, and digital ads from various…
Hard Money vs. Soft Money: How Campaign Finance Rules Shape American Elections
Campaign finance in America operates through a complex web of rules that determine who can give money to politicians, how much they can give,…
The Hidden Gatekeepers: How Ballot Access and Sore Loser Laws Shape Your Choices
Before you ever step into a voting booth, a complex web of rules has already determined who appears on your ballot. These regulations—ballot access…
Campaign Finance and Free Speech: How Money Shapes American Elections
Money and politics have been intertwined since America's founding, but the relationship has grown increasingly complex and controversial. Today's campaign finance system reflects more…
The Hidden Power of Election Labels: How Your Ballot Shapes Politics
When you walk into a voting booth, the structure of your ballot has already been decided for you. Some candidates appear with party labels…