Candidates and Campaigns

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All Articles on 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…

By
Alison O'Leary

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…

By
Alison O'Leary

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.…

By
Alison O'Leary

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…

By
Deborah Rod

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…

By
GovFacts

Socialist Candidates in America

On the night of June 24, 2025, a political tremor shook New York City. Zohran Mamdani, a 33-year-old, first-term state…

By
GovFacts

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…

By
GovFacts

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…

By
GovFacts