American Government / Unit 5 Gov 218 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Coattails
Captions available
The idea
Congressional candidates' fortunes often ride on the popularity of their party's president or presidential nominee.
In practice
Incumbents win or lose seats with the top of the ticket — the coattail pattern.
Where people slip
The pattern links offices a voter may think of as separate choices.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
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