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Party, Policy, and the Ambition to Run for Higher Office
Author(s) -
Aldrich John H.,
Thomsen Danielle M.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
legislative studies quarterly
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.728
H-Index - 54
eISSN - 1939-9162
pISSN - 0362-9805
DOI - 10.1111/lsq.12161
Subject(s) - legislature , argument (complex analysis) , state (computer science) , value (mathematics) , political science , public administration , law , computer science , biochemistry , chemistry , algorithm , machine learning
This article examines why some state legislators run for Congress and others do not. Our main argument is that there are differences in the expected value of a state legislative seat and the expected benefits of being a member of Congress. One key component of this value is how closely the candidate fits with her party. We find that the probability of seeking congressional office increases among state legislators who are distant from the state party and proximate to the congressional party and decreases among those who are distant from the congressional party and proximate to the state party.