Campaigns and Elections

"This book methodically describes the institutions and dynamics at the heart of American democracy. It skillfully focuses on the ways in which the participants (e.g., parties, interest groups, consultants, bureaucrats) and the rules interact to select those who will represent their constituencies. This edition of the book addresses fundamental questions about the resilience of democratic practices and norms in the wake of the most recent elections. There is no better assessment of the current state of how the United States conducts its elections and how candidates run their campaigns."

Kelly Patterson, Brigham Young University, USA

"Stephen Medvic’s latest edition of Campaigns and Elections continues to explain these events from the perspectives of all the players. Instead of just discussing presidential elections, voters, and political parties, this volume does that and details candidate motivations to run for office at any level, the use of political consultants and election administration. This is the best book on the market for helping students understand all aspects of the campaign and election processes. The writing is engaging, the data is fresh, and the role-play scenarios and discussion questions are great tools for any instructor."

Robin Kolodny, Temple University, USA

Praise for the Previous Edition

"The new edition of Stephen Medvic’s Campaigns and Elections carries the reader through the 2016 election up to the 2018 midterm. In clear and comprehensive writing, the book draws important distinctions between elections and campaigns, notes the complexity of covering the subject in which the process varies so much from state to state and from one level of government to the next, and draws the reader in by examining the roles of all the players—candidates, interest groups, parties, the media, and voters. Medvic skillfully explains how 2016 was unique but still understandable in terms of the process, and sagely speculates on what it tells us for the campaigns and elections to come."

L. Sandy Maisel, Colby College, USA

"Stephen Medvic’s textbook is quite an achievement: It is both exhaustively comprehensive and accessible for a college-age audience... This is an excellent and highly recommended text that provides clarity to the confounding issues of campaigns and elections in the US."

Mark Major, Pennsylvania State University, USA

"Campaigns and Elections provides a complete picture of campaigns, with great insight into both how campaigns work and what impact they have on election outcomes. Students benefit from the way Medvic clearly and accessibly brings together the broad forces of the political environment: the rules that create constraints and opportunities, the impact of candidates and campaign organizations, and voter behavior. The third edition is updated to reflect social and technological developments, and the ways these have altered the practice of modern campaigns."

Christopher B. Mann, Skidmore College, USA; former congressional campaign manager, policy/political consultant, and party executive

"This text is a very impressive study of campaigns and elections in the United States, and a needed contribution to the field. Medvic has done a great job of describing the contemporary situation, while also identifying important questions raised by the electoral process."

Candice Nelson, American University, USA

"This is by far the most thorough and nuanced text on this subject: Its comprehensive, yet relatively concise, examination balances coverage of institutions and behavior. My students find the book to be clear and exciting; instructors will appreciate the careful reflection on current events both within the unique US electoral system and in historical context. The third edition tackles the complexity of the 2016 elections and demystifies its outcome, with analysis that is a model for student writing—evidence-based and rich with data but never overbearing or unduly complicated. In short, this book accomplishes what it usually takes two books to cover."

Stephen Maynard Caliendo, North Central College, USA

"Detailing the legal and competitive aspects of elections as well as the contending interests of different political actors, the new edition of Campaigns and Elections: Players and Processes is unafraid to ask the thorny normative questions facing American elections and campaigns. 'Free and fair elections' rolls off the tongue easily, but freedom and fairness, as Medvic masterfully details, are contending values that our laws, politicians, and voters struggle to bring into balance. Students will walk away from this book with a systematic, historically driven, and theoretically solid information base to understand our strange system of elections as both scholars and citizens."

Michael Wolf, Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne, USA

Praise for the Fourth Edition

"This book methodically describes the institutions and dynamics at the heart of American democracy. It skillfully focuses on the ways in which the participants (e.g., parties, interest groups, consultants, bureaucrats) and the rules interact to select those who will represent their constituencies. This edition of the book addresses fundamental questions about the resilience of democratic practices and norms in the wake of the most recent elections. There is no better assessment of the current state of how the United States conducts its elections and how candidates run their campaigns."

Kelly Patterson, Brigham Young University, USA

"Stephen Medvic’s latest edition of Campaigns and Elections continues to explain these events from the perspectives of all the players. Instead of just discussing presidential elections, voters, and political parties, this volume does that and details candidate motivations to run for office at any level, the use of political consultants and election administration. This is the best book on the market for helping students understand all aspects of the campaign and election processes. The writing is engaging, the data is fresh, and the role-play scenarios and discussion questions are great tools for any instructor."

Robin Kolodny, Temple University, USA

Praise for the Previous Edition

"The new edition of Stephen Medvic’s Campaigns and Elections carries the reader through the 2016 election up to the 2018 midterm. In clear and comprehensive writing, the book draws important distinctions between elections and campaigns, notes the complexity of covering the subject in which the process varies so much from state to state and from one level of government to the next, and draws the reader in by examining the roles of all the players—candidates, interest groups, parties, the media, and voters. Medvic skillfully explains how 2016 was unique but still understandable in terms of the process, and sagely speculates on what it tells us for the campaigns and elections to come."

L. Sandy Maisel, Colby College, USA

"Stephen Medvic’s textbook is quite an achievement: It is both exhaustively comprehensive and accessible for a college-age audience... This is an excellent and highly recommended text that provides clarity to the confounding issues of campaigns and elections in the US."

Mark Major, Pennsylvania State University, USA

"Campaigns and Elections provides a complete picture of campaigns, with great insight into both how campaigns work and what impact they have on election outcomes. Students benefit from the way Medvic clearly and accessibly brings together the broad forces of the political environment: the rules that create constraints and opportunities, the impact of candidates and campaign organizations, and voter behavior. The third edition is updated to reflect social and technological developments, and the ways these have altered the practice of modern campaigns."

Christopher B. Mann, Skidmore College, USA; former congressional campaign manager, policy/political consultant, and party executive

"This text is a very impressive study of campaigns and elections in the United States, and a needed contribution to the field. Medvic has done a great job of describing the contemporary situation, while also identifying important questions raised by the electoral process."

Candice Nelson, American University, USA

"This is by far the most thorough and nuanced text on this subject: Its comprehensive, yet relatively concise, examination balances coverage of institutions and behavior. My students find the book to be clear and exciting; instructors will appreciate the careful reflection on current events both within the unique US electoral system and in historical context. The third edition tackles the complexity of the 2016 elections and demystifies its outcome, with analysis that is a model for student writing—evidence-based and rich with data but never overbearing or unduly complicated. In short, this book accomplishes what it usually takes two books to cover."

Stephen Maynard Caliendo, North Central College, USA

"Detailing the legal and competitive aspects of elections as well as the contending interests of different political actors, the new edition of Campaigns and Elections: Players and Processes is unafraid to ask the thorny normative questions facing American elections and campaigns. 'Free and fair elections' rolls off the tongue easily, but freedom and fairness, as Medvic masterfully details, are contending values that our laws, politicians, and voters struggle to bring into balance. Students will walk away from this book with a systematic, historically driven, and theoretically solid information base to understand our strange system of elections as both scholars and citizens."

Michael Wolf, Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne, USA