How to beat an incumbent congress member in an election - Essay Example

It is hard to beat an incumbent congress member in an election for the following reasons: they enjoy “perks” of Office in form of budget allotment which is used to hire sizable staff to aid their campaigns both in Washington and in their states or districts. Travel allowance makes it easier for them to tour their constituencies. This “perks” also allow them an advantage of periodically sending postage-free announcements or letters to their constituents. Other advantages include sufficient time for campaigns as it is in line with their vocation, they are more visible thanks to mentions in mass media or frequent appearances in newspapers and radio/TV shows.

Partisanship politics is likely to be intense when party leadership advocates for party loyalty in the wake of controversial law being passed. For instance, stance on Iraq War and Obamacare evoked strong ideological differences. Democrat party leadership desired Obamacare to be implemented to bring into fruition their campaign manifesto. On the other hand, Republicans simply sought to disapprove Obamacare. Another reason for intense partisan politics in some era is when competition leading to an election is close.

For example, when elections are close and outcomes matter, office holders, candidates and voters tend to display greater levels of partisanship. The intention of filibusters is to always get the closure vote, hence compelling the senate to attain super majority so as to pass any bill into law. This makes it hard for the senate to employ more bipartisanship to pass into laws matters of national importance. Therefore, filibusters have the effect of delaying or rather stopping the adoption of laws that could in effect lead to better systems of governance.