Voter Mobilization in the 1986 Midterm Election

Research on turnout has addressed a political mobilization hypothesis that emphasizes the influence of campaign stimuli on this form of participation. This study extends existing models and considers alternative conceptualizations of political mobilization using data from the 1986 midterm election. The findings suggest that the presence of a vigorous congressional campaign, measured through expenditures, and a simultaneous senatorial race mobilize members of the electorate. To gain a more complete understanding of the mobilization process, however, conditional relationships must be considered. A high stimulus congressional campaign, for example, demonstrates the least influence on lesser educated, high-income citizens and the greatest influence on highly educated, low-income citizens. Challenger spending emerges as particularly important in structuring congressional mobilization.