Candidates who don’t win on first convention ballot usually go on to lose
In 11 of the 18 conventions since the Civil War that went more than one ballot, the first-ballot leader ended up losing the nomination to someone else.
Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World
In 11 of the 18 conventions since the Civil War that went more than one ballot, the first-ballot leader ended up losing the nomination to someone else.
So far this year, Republican primaries are experiencing record turnouts, much as voting in Democratic primaries surged in 2008. But the longer-term trend in primary turnout has been down.
Long years of service have been the norm for past speakers, most of whom had accumulated twice as much time in the House as today’s candidates before wielding the gavel.
How the Supreme Court decides a redistricting case from Texas could affect Hispanic voting strength and House representation from coast to coast.
Overall, 16% of registered voters follow candidates for office, political parties, or elected officials on a social networking site.
If Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker wins the Republican presidential nomination next year, he’ll be the first major-party nominee without a college degree since Barry Goldwater in 1964.
Most eligible voters — typically 8-in-ten or more — live in House districts with little or no real competition between candidates and parties.
If history is any guide, well under half of eligible voters will come out to vote in Tuesday’s midterms.
28% of registered voters use their cell phone to follow political news, and 16% follow political figures on social media.
Only nine major-party candidates have won a second presidential nomination after losing a previous election, and only four of those won the second time around.
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