Campaign Professionalism and Fundraising in Congressional Elections

Abstract

Contemporary congressional elections require candidates to assemble campaign organizations that can conduct technologically sophisticated election activities and raise large amounts of money from political parties, political action committees, and individuals. This study demonstrates that campaign professionalism--as defined by the number of campaign activities performed by professional political consultants--has an important impact on a candidate's fundraising success. The value of fielding a professional campaign organization is underscored by the fact that this is one of the few aspects of an election that is under the candidate's control.