Midterm Election Costs
For the current midterm election, has more money been raised for U.S. Senate or U.S. House races?
How accurate was your prediction?
How surprising is the data?
Why do you think more money has been raised on House than Senate races?
What portion of House seats are up for election this year?
What portion of Senate seats are up for election this year?
Why do you think there is so much money in elections?
What are two consequences of all this money in elections?
Explain whether the data in this chart is good news.
In the 2016 U.S. House elections, only 6 out of 435 House seats were won by the candidate who spent LESS than their opponent. Why do you think that is?
Based on the data in the chart, do you think that Republicans or Democrats will win more races?
Overall, does more money come from PACs or from Individuals?
Over a billion dollars have been raised for the 2018 House races. How do you feel about that?
The Federal Election Commission tracks most of the money raised in elections. Explain whether the almost 2 billion dollars raised so far for the 2016 election makes the American political system more or less democratic.
In some countries there are limits on how much money a candidate can spend, limits on how long elections can last, and lots of public funding for elections. Explain whether you think there should be limits on how much money a candidate can spend.
How does all this money impact American politics?
How does all this money impact you?
