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Conyers Decision Reinforces Unfair Advantages of Incumbnents

Despite failing to meet the signature requirements to run for re-election, a federal judge has ordered Rep. John Conyers (D-Michigan) restored to the ballot.

Michigan’s Secretary of State had ordered Conyers name removed because he failed to collect the appropriate number of petition signatures.  The Conyers campaign used collectors who were not registered voters, and the signatures collected were not valid according to Michigan law.

But Conyers has been in office for 49 years, and received consideration that his challenger clearly would not have been given.

A growing trend towards enhancing the already considerable advantages of incumbents, whether they be president of the United States or a local town legislator, has virtually stagnated the American governing process.  Ironically, many of the approaches advertised as levelling the playing field such as campaign finance regulations, have served only to enhance incumbents’ power due to the fact that challengers rarely have the experience or the resources to comply with complex and onerous regulations and filing requirements.
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A study by Politico notes that 90% of House members and 91% of senators who sought re-election in 2012 were successful, as was President Obama.  The rate is difficult to explain beyond the power of incumbency, since there was widespread dissatisfaction with both federal legislators and the White House.

Beyond special treatment by Boards of Election and gimmicks such as campaign regulations that favor incumbents, a media that largely under-reports challengers also plays a significant role.

Limiting the role of spending, often advertised as a means of levelling the playing field, tends to help incumbents.  Challengers, with less name recognition and less access to media attention, generally need to spend more to be competitive.