Comparing Gubernatorial and Senatorial Elections

Abstract

Drawing on several data sources we-compare elections for governor and United States senator We attempt to explain why governors are somewhat more electorally vulnerable than are senators. We show that voters are more likely to know and have an opinion of their state's chief executive than of their senators. Governors, however, tend to be evaluated less favorably. In addition, voters are more apt to know and vote for a gubernatorial challenger than a Senate challenger, regardless of the challenger's political background or quality. Voter defection rates clearly give senators an advantage over gover nors in getting reelected. We tie these relationships to differences in media coverage of the two offices.