THE INFLUENCE OF THE PRESIDENT ON THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS CAMPAIGNS
Open Access
Author:
Baranowski, Aubrey Lynne
Area of Honors:
Political Science (Behrend)
Degree:
Bachelor of Arts
Document Type:
Thesis
Thesis Supervisors:
Robert W. Speel, Thesis Supervisor Robert W. Speel, Thesis Honors Advisor Kilic B Kanat, Faculty Reader
Keywords:
midterm effect 2006 elections 2010 election 2018 election United States House of Representatives United States Senate influence of the president Republican Democrat portrayal
Abstract:
The main focus of my research was to see how the campaigns of those wishing to either enter Congress or keep their seat in it portray the current president of the United States. How do they address the president’s past actions and current policies? Does being in a state or district that tends to lean Republican or Democrat change how the candidate addresses the president? I looked at the United States House of Representatives and United States Senate campaigns of 2018, 2010, and 2006. Donald Trump, Barack Obama, and George W. Bush were the presidents during these elections, respectively. I saw in my research how the midterm effect can impact the party of the current president. A majority of the time the candidates of the president’s party will support him, especially if his approval ratings are high. If the approval ratings are low, candidates of the same party as the president might avoid controversial actions or issues that the president has taken a stance on. I found that the president does have a significant impact on the campaigns of candidates from both parties at all levels of government.
