The Effects of Campaign Spending in State Supreme Court Elections

Abstract

Electoral competition has been an important subject of political science research over the past several decades. This article examines the effects of campaign spending on electoral competition in state supreme court elections. Specifically, I address the question: How do campaign expenditures affect the performance of incumbents in supreme court elections? I find that just like elections to Congress and state legislatures, electoral competition in state supreme court elections can be understood by looking at characteristics of the candidates, the state and electoral context, and institutional arrangements.