Description
Book SynopsisThe 2014 midterm congressional elections provided a view of the attitude of American voters in the sixth year of Barack Obama's presidency. This book provides insight about the formative aspects of the 2014 campaign season as well as in depth coverage of key races for Congress. The first section has four chapters that cover the substance of topics that impacted this campaign cycle: the popularity and productivity of the 113th Congress, voter suppression laws passed in many states, the role of Super PACs and independent expenditures in the campaigns, and the use of social media by members of Congress running for reelection. Case studies follow the path of ten House and seven Senate races from inception to election postmortem. The chapters are narrative and provide analysis of an array of interesting and diverse contests from throughout the country. The authors provide succinct and highly readable chapters meant to illustrate the distinctive nature of the campaigns they are examining. I
Trade ReviewAnother in the series of edited works on running for Congress, this volume explores seven races for the US Senate and ten for the House. Because of the common format used in each chapter, these 17 examinations of congressional elections allow readers to compare and contrast. In addition to chapters on individual contests, chapters are devoted to the 113th Congress, voter suppression laws, and the roles of super PACs and of independent expenditures…. The concluding chapter looks at the legacy of the elections of 2014. An excellently written, even-handed summary of selected 2014 congressional elections. Lower- and upper-division undergraduates. * CHOICE *
It is always necessary for both scholars and the voting public to read a helpful account of congressional campaigns and elections. The practice and health of our democracy is tied to them. However, given the hyper-partisanship that defines politics today, the gridlock that plagues Washington, the growing impact of big money on campaigns, and the bewildering array of complicated issues facing us, it becomes all the more important to have such a valuable resource as The Roads to Congress. Foreman and Dewhirst are to be congratulated on the latest installment of this vital series. The book contains essays on a wide array of campaigns and candidates that captures the intriguing and eventful election of 2014 and treats them in an even-handed and informative manner. Both House and Senate races are examined and the essays are thorough yet highly readable and provide the reader with a number of timely lessons. I recommend the book to anyone interested in that historic election or in the alarming changes occurring in American political campaigns. It will also make an ideal supplemental text for undergraduate and master’s-level courses in campaigns and elections, the Congress, and related subjects. -- Robert P. Watson, Lynn University; author of Affairs of State, The Presidents’ Wives, and America’s First Crisis
Table of ContentsForeword, Congressman Jason Altmire, Member of U.S. House of Representatives (2007–2013) Part I. Setting the Stage Chapter 1. Assessing the 113th Congress and its Members’ Roads to Reelection, Sean D. Foreman Chapter 2. Voter Suppression by State Governments after the Shelby County v. Holder (2013) U.S. Supreme Court decision, Daniel E. Smith Chapter 3. Campaign Finance: The Impact of McCutcheon et al. v. FEC in the Wake of Citizens United, William Curtis Ellis Chapter 4. Tweeting to Victory? Social Media Use and Election 2014, Bryan T. Gervais Part II. U.S. House of Representatives Chapter 5. Arizona’s 2nd Congressional District (Ron Barber vs. Martha McSally): Beating the Heat in a Highly Anticipated Rematch, Laura Loomer Chapter 6. California’s 31st Congressional District (Pete Aguilar v. Paul Chabot): Open Seat in the Golden State, Marcia L. Godwin and Richard Gelm Chapter 7. Colorado’s 6th Congressional District (Mike Coffman v. Andrew Romanoff): A Conservative Republican Successfully Adapts to His Changing District, Christina Ladam, Joseph Zamadics, Josh M. Ryan, and Anand Edward Sohkey Chapter 8. Florida’s 13th Congressional District (David Jolly v. Alex Sink): The Death of Local Politics, Peter Bergerson and Margaret Banyan Chapter 9. Florida’s 26th Congressional District: (Joe Garcia v. Carlos Curbelo): A tossup race in a swing state district mired in controversy, Sean D. Foreman Chapter 10. Illinois’ 10th Congressional District (Bob Dold vs. Brad Schneider): The Rematch, Jeffrey Ashley and Jillian McClain Chapter 11. Massachusetts District 6 (Seth Moulton v. Richard Tisei): Inspired to Serve, Chosen to Lead, Joseph P. Caiazzo Chapter 12. New York’s 18th Congressional District (Sean Maloney vs. Nan Hayworth): Rematch in the Hudson Valley, Jeffrey Kraus Chapter 13. Ohio’s 6th Congressional District (Bill Johnson v. Jennifer Garrison): Obama’s Low Numbers Too Much for Dems, William Binning and Melanie Blumberg Chapter 14. Virginia’s 7th Congressional District Primary (David Brat v. Eric Cantor and then Jack Trammel): Remember the District and Respect the Opponent, William J. Miller Part III. U.S. Senate Chapter 15. Alaska Senate Race (Mark Begich v. Dan Sullivan): Begich swept out with the Tide, Jerry McBeath, and Carl Shepro Chapter 16. Colorado Senate Race (Cory Gardner v. Mark Udall): A Republican Tide Sinks Udall’s Lackluster bid for reelection, Kyle D. McEvilly and William K. Hall Chapter 17. Iowa Senate Race (Joni Ernst v. Bruce Braley): Make ‘em Squeal! Republicans Find a Winning Formula in Iowa, Walter Clark Wilson and David Romero Chapter 18. Kentucky Senate Race (Alison Lundergran Grimes v. Mitch McConnell): Insert Name Here (Republican) v. President Barack Obama (Democrat), Joseph Gershtenson Chapter 19. Louisiana Senate Race (Bill Cassidy v. Mary Landrieu): Landrieu (D) v. Cassidy (R) and Maness (R) and Hollis (R) and Obama: The End of an Era in the Deep South, Joshua Stockley Chapter 20. Mississippi Senate Race (Travis Childers v. Thad Cochran): A Senate Veteran Stretched to the Limit in the Primary Pulls through for a Seventh Term, Tom Lansford Chapter 21. Virginia (Mark Warner v. Ed Gillespie): A Surprisingly Close Contest for a Centrist in a Swing State, Douglas M. Brattebo Part IV. Conclusion Chapter 22. The Legacy of the 2014 Elections: Surf’s Up! Republicans Riding the Wave, but to Where?, Kimberly L. Casey
