Faculty Publications
Three of a Kind: Iowa’s Unique Congressional Competitiveness
Document Type
Book Chapter
Journal/Book/Conference Title
The Roads to Congress 2022: Controversies and Competing Visions for America's Future
First Page
231
Last Page
250
Abstract
Only a fraction of congressional elections are competitive in any given election year. In Iowa, however, three of the four congressional districts typically fit into the competitive category. We show why this is the case, drawing on numerous data sources, including the sharp rural-urban split that exists in these districts. While the predicted “red wave” did not materialize nationally in 2022, there was a red ripple in Iowa, with the margins for Republicans exceeding pre-election expectations. The built-in forces surrounding redistricting, electoral history, as well as shifts in party registration, however, suggest Iowa is by no means a “red” state, but rather a state where three-fourths of its House districts are capable of switching hands in any given election cycle.
Department
Department of Political Science
Original Publication Date
1-1-2023
DOI of published version
10.1007/978-3-031-42749-7
Recommended Citation
Hoffman, Donna R. and Larimer, Christopher W., "Three of a Kind: Iowa’s Unique Congressional Competitiveness" (2023). Faculty Publications. 5833.
https://scholarworks.uni.edu/facpub/5833
