Preference Dynamics in the 2014 Congressional Midterm Elections
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Costas Panagopoulos
Costas Panagopoulos is Professor of Political Science and Director of the Center for Electoral Politics and Democracy at Fordham University.
Abstract
The vote intentions of Americans experienced meaningful change over the course of the 2014 campaign, largely to the detriment of Democrats and in favor of the GOP. Vote intention trajectories generally followed sensible and predictable patterns, reflecting forces and developments that unfolded over the course of the campaign cycle. Specifically, changes in voter sentiments were fueled primarily by assessments about the president and, relatedly, about the condition of the national economy. Higher levels of Obama approval helped Democratic contenders over the course of the 2014 midterm cycle, while Republicans appeared to benefit from improvements in the economy. Political events and assessments of congressional performance were unrelated to vote intentions in 2014.
About the author
Costas Panagopoulos is Professor of Political Science and Director of the Center for Electoral Politics and Democracy at Fordham University.
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©2014 by De Gruyter
Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Introduction
- The 2014 Midterm in the Longest Run: The Puzzle of a Modern Era
- The Republican Wave of 2014: The Continuity of the 2012 and 2014 Elections
- Was it a Wave? What does it Mean?
- The 2014 House Elections: Political Analysis and The Enduring Importance of Demographics
- Constitutional Design and 2014 Senate Election Outcomes
- Political Advertising in 2014: The Year of the Outside Group
- Interest Group Issue Appeals: Evidence of Issue Convergence in Senate and Presidential Elections, 2008–2014
- Money in the 2014 Congressional Elections: Institutionalizing a Broken Regulatory System
- Preference Dynamics in the 2014 Congressional Midterm Elections
- Still Crazy after All These Years: The Polarized Politics of the Roberts Court Continue
- Book reviews
- Resilient America
- The Invisible Bridge: The Fall of Nixon and the Rise of Reagan
Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Introduction
- The 2014 Midterm in the Longest Run: The Puzzle of a Modern Era
- The Republican Wave of 2014: The Continuity of the 2012 and 2014 Elections
- Was it a Wave? What does it Mean?
- The 2014 House Elections: Political Analysis and The Enduring Importance of Demographics
- Constitutional Design and 2014 Senate Election Outcomes
- Political Advertising in 2014: The Year of the Outside Group
- Interest Group Issue Appeals: Evidence of Issue Convergence in Senate and Presidential Elections, 2008–2014
- Money in the 2014 Congressional Elections: Institutionalizing a Broken Regulatory System
- Preference Dynamics in the 2014 Congressional Midterm Elections
- Still Crazy after All These Years: The Polarized Politics of the Roberts Court Continue
- Book reviews
- Resilient America
- The Invisible Bridge: The Fall of Nixon and the Rise of Reagan
