Effects of Campaign Spending On Local Elections

Abstract

Data on Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, N.C. elections held between 1975 and 1980 were collected. The effects of campaign spending, party, sex, race, and incumbency are examined in five types of elections in this single area: nonpartisan school board, single member district primaries, single member district general partisan elections, multiple seat primaries, and multiple seat general partisan elections. Three conclusions are worthy of note: (1) Money is as important in partisan elections as in primaries and school board contests, (2) Campaign spending plays a stronger role in single member district elections and incumbency a stronger role in multiple seat elections, (3) incumbency, party, and campaign spending are not as strongly related to the vote as is suggested by studies that focus on many different constituencies for one office.