Politics with Paul #17: Why Incumbents Win Reelection So Often

Why do we hate politicians (particularly Congress) so much yet so often reelect the same ones? The incumbency advantage is a well-documented phenomenon in political science, and 2024 saw sky-high reelection rates for elected officials running for their same seats. Although incumbency advantage can vary by type of office (e.g. Congress, governors) and by state, those already in office tend to have an advantage by virtue of already holding the seat. Why do incumbents generally enjoy an advantage over challengers in this regard? How successful have recent and historical incumbent reelection bids been? That’s what today’s episode dives into. Today’s random question: What is your ideal Thanksgiving meal?