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Campaign Finance Laws and Candidacy Decisions in State Legislative Elections
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Campaign Finance Laws and Candidacy Decisions
in State Legislative Elections*
Keith E. Hamm
Robert E. Hogan
Rice University
Louisiana State University
Abstract
This paper examines the influence of campaign election laws on patterns of candidacy in state legislative
elections. The decision by a candidate to seek office is a necessary condition for electoral competition to occur, however, few studies have considered the influence of various legal factors that may inhibit or enhance the likelihood that a candidate seeks office. Of particular concern in this analysis is the influence of campaign finance laws. Previous studies demonstrate that restrictions on campaign contributions vary dramatically from state to state and such variation affects levels of campaign spending and competition. But how do such conditions influence the likelihood that an incumbent is even challenged by a major party contender? How do these various restrictions on funding sources influence the probability that an independent challenger emerges? Do lower contribution limits actually level the playing field and result in greater contestation, as many reform-minded individuals would hope? A central question is not just whether such laws have an effect, but how important this effect is relative to other factors such as ballot access laws or state and district political conditions (legislative professionalism, partisan competition in the district, etc.) An examination of state and district-level features in the 1994, 1996, and 1998 election cycles enables us to begin answering such questions.
*Funding for this project was provided by the National Science Foundation (SES-0215450 and SES-0215604). All findings and conclusions presented are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the National Science Foundation.
Paper prepared for presentation at the 2005 Annual Meeting of the American Political Science Association, Washington, DC: September 1-4.
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| | Authors: Hogan, Robert. and Hamm, Keith. |
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Campaign Finance Laws and Candidacy Decisions
in State Legislative Elections*
Keith E. Hamm
Robert E. Hogan
Rice University
Louisiana State University
Abstract
This paper examines the influence of campaign election laws on patterns of candidacy in state legislative
elections. The decision by a candidate to seek office is a necessary condition for electoral competition to occur,
however, few studies have considered the influence of various legal factors that may inhibit or enhance the
likelihood that a candidate seeks office. Of particular concern in this analysis is the influence of campaign finance
laws. Previous studies demonstrate that restrictions on campaign contributions vary dramatically from state to
state and such variation affects levels of campaign spending and competition. But how do such conditions
influence the likelihood that an incumbent is even challenged by a major party contender? How do these various
restrictions on funding sources influence the probability that an independent challenger emerges? Do lower
contribution limits actually level the playing field and result in greater contestation, as many reform-minded
individuals would hope? A central question is not just whether such laws have an effect, but how important this
effect is relative to other factors such as ballot access laws or state and district political conditions (legislative
professionalism, partisan competition in the district, etc.) An examination of state and district-level features in the
1994, 1996, and 1998 election cycles enables us to begin answering such questions.
*Funding for this project was provided by the National Science Foundation (SES-0215450 and SES-0215604). All
findings and conclusions presented are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the National
Science Foundation.
Paper prepared for presentation at the 2005 Annual Meeting of the American Political Science Association,
Washington, DC: September 1-4.
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