Midterm Election Spending
Critical Analysis
According to the data from the visual, how much money was spent on the 1998 midterm election?
According to the data from the visual, how much money was spent on the 2018 (our most recent) midterm election?
Describe one trend you see in the data.
Identify two causes of that trend?
Based on changes over the past ten years, what amount do you predict will be spent on this year’s midterm elections?
Claim: the increase in campaign spending is a sign of the good health of American democracy. Use your reading of the chart and your knowledge of American politics to respond to this claim.
Explain why, relative to the major two parties, Third Parties/Minor Parties spend so little on elections?
What question do you have about this chart?
Explain how the ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission impacted the spending in the chart? (Pro Tip: this is one of the 14 landmark SCOTUS cases that you should definitely know! You can learn a whole lot more about this case right here!)
Describe the connection between election spending and winning. (see visual below)
Learning Extension
Check out this fantabulous article on money and elections from Five Thirty Eight.
Action Extension
Check out the data from Open Secrets on the 2018 congressional elections and see how much your very own beloved U.S. representative spent. Share the data in class or online.
Visual Extension
Total cost of U.S. midterm elections from 1998 to 2018 by party (in million U.S. dollars)
