Why do people keep voting for the incumbent?

Answer 1

Because they're too lazy to read up on all the candidates involved. It's just easier to vote the name they already know.

Answer 2

There are many reasons why people keep voting for the incumbent. One of the biggest is that most times, the incumbent is known - whereas the challenger isn't.

Another reason is that the incumbent is a known quantity. You already know how they will act in the office, because they've been in the office. The challenger, on the other hand, most likely hasn't been in that office, so you don't know how they will act.

A third reason is because there are many benefits of being an incumbent. The re-election rate of House members is about 96% - the re-election rate of Senators is 92%. As a member of Congress, you can publish a newsletter to your constituents - and if you word it properly, it's not considered a campaign piece.

You can pass legislation, get on the floor of the House or Senate and give a speech about it, and it's not considered campaigning. The President can fly into a city with Air Force One, deliver a speech about this or that - and then have a fundraiser that evening - and his campaign only has to pay for part of the travel on Air Force One (as opposed to paying for all of it). There are many benefits of encumbancy - that almost all of which help you get re-elected.

That's probably the biggest reason why people keep voting for incumbents.

Answer 3

great question, almost a trick right?while some feel that no negative change is worth keeping, others feel that there is more accountability with someone who no longer rides the newbee train. but the true answer is that the politician that has already won spends much less than a new candidate because he /she already has the election signs so a few more overwhelms the voter.of course, people need to realize that if all politicians were new, then no single group could sway the general opinion of the upandcomers, thus true freedom would ring through the politicians who represent majority public opinion---so, why do people keep voting the incumbent?hmmmm

Answer 4

Every couple of years there is an "anti-incumbent" sentiment out there and after the election, it turns out few incumbents were voted out. The reason? Most Americans despise Congress in general, but like their own congressman. I worry that will happen again this year. We really need a new party in charge.

Please vote Democrat!

Answer 5

People don't keep voting for the incumbent - they keep voting for their party. And since virtually all congressional seats are in "safe" districts - mostly republican or mostly democrat - the incumbent is already the candidate of their party.

Answer 6

'Cause people are inherently inclined to pick somebody they know rather than somebody new. If the prospect of a future with a known competent candidate overrules that of a new candidate with plans of changing things around, people grow weary and cautious and pick the incumbent. It's a tried tendency.

Answer 7

it quite is an entire and utter embarrassment to me, an area Californian. i'm thoroughly disgusted and sorry that California gave u.s. yet another term of extra of a similar with Boxer and extra of that with Brown. stupid human beings. they haven't any concept what they have only achieved.

Answer 8

Because Democrats and Liberals have no national security policy....

Answer 9

i didnt. waiting for next election