Search Form
First, enter a politician or zip code ▶
Now, choose a category ▶

Media

Blog

The Voter’s Speakeasy featuring unbiased reporting and insight into life at Vote Smart from our staff, interns, and volunteers.

2016 Congressional Political Courage Test Results

2016 October 26

2016 Congressional Political Courage Test Results:


The Political Courage Test, which has been endorsed by major media in every election since 1992, asks candidates to demonstrate their political courage by providing voters with that essential information, in spite of the fact that opponents might use their answers in political attacks.


Afraid of their opponents, more than 70% of congressional candidates now refuse to answer basic questions on the key issues voters in their districts and states are concerned about. The 2016 Political Courage Test results released today show a dramatic 20-year decline in the response rates from 72% in 1996 to only 24%. However, Vote Smart has done an end run around the candidates by researching their public records and publishing all candidates’ positions on thirteen key issues on VoteEasy.


Check out the results, below!


Total Candidates sent PCT: Total Candidates: 1200

Republicans: 449

Democrats: 454

Ind./3rd Party: 297

Incumbents: 416 Challengers: 784


Total Candidates returning PCT:

Republicans: 74

Democrats: 104 Ind./3rd Party: 115 Incumbents: 32

Challengers: 261  

FINAL RETURN RATE: 24%

Breakdown by State:

Alabama: 8%
Alaska: 22%
Arizona: 21%
Arkansas: 40%
California: 20%
Colorado: 43%
Connecticut:12%
Delaware: 25%
Florida: 33%
Georgia: 16%
Hawaii: 36%
Idaho: 50%
Illinois: 13%
Indiana: 23%
Iowa: 33%
Kansas: 60%
Kentucky: 42%
Louisiana: 15%
Maine: 0%
Maryland: 26%
Massachusetts: 35%
Michigan: 24%
Minnesota: 21%
Mississippi: 0%
Missouri: 36%
Montana: 0%
Nebraska: 0%
Nevada: 33%
New Hampshire: 25%
New Jersey: 28%
New Mexico: 17%
New York: 13%
North Carolina: 34%
North Dakota: 33%
Ohio: 24%
Oklahoma ...

Read More

Tags

More Posts

Women Warriors

2016 October 26

 Even in the earliest years of the United States, women have been filling vital roles to support United States military operations.

Recent K-12 Curriculum Legislation

2016 October 20

 State legislatures in the previous months have been passing bills to alter and add to their public school systems’ curriculums.

The Clean Power Plan: Economic or Environmental?

2016 October 14

 On August 3, 2015, President Barack Obama introduced the highly controversial Clean Power Plan (CPP) as part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) attempt to combat climate change.

Political Ignorance as a Preference

2016 October 07

 Voting smart can require enormous effort or minimal effort, but to vote smart takes effort.

Presidential Pardons in 2016

2016 October 05

 On Wednesday, August 3rd, 2016, President Obama granted clemency, forgiveness of a sentence, to 214 incarcerated individuals, 67 of which were serving life sentences in federal penitentiaries. This raises some questions about what clemency actually entails. Clemency, under the US Constitution, allows the President to grant pardons and commutations to federal prisoners.

Wait, Are Salamanders Voting?

2016 September 28

 The topic of redistricting elicits reactions from all sides because its effects are heavily felt in elections; no party wishes to be disadvantaged due to district lines. Conflicting interests continue to seek a balance between majority power, geography, and the concept of fair elections.

Ballot Access Laws

2016 September 20

How did these candidates get on the ballot? Why are they in particular on the ballot, while others who may have been running don’t appear? For that matter, how do the candidates of the two major parties get on the ballot? The answers to these questions depend on your state’s ballot access laws.

“Blue Lives Matter” Bills

2016 September 14

On May 26, 2016, Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards signed into law HB 953, or what media outlets are dubbing the “Blue Lives Matter” bill. The first of its kind, HB 953 prosecutes crimes against law enforcement and other first responders as hate crimes, increasing their penalties and punishments.

Dodd–Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act

2016 September 09

 Widely considered the most significant financial regulatory reform since the Great Depression, the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank) instantly became a debated political battle in Washington.

Skip to top

Help us stay free for all your Fellow Americans

Just $5 from everyone reading this would do it.

1
Select an amount
2
How often
3
Payment details

Thank You!

You are about to be redirected to a secure checkout page.

Please note:

The total order amount will read $0.01. This is a card processor fee. Please know that a recurring donation of the amount and frequency that you selected will be processed and initiated tomorrow. You may see a one-time charge of $0.01 on your statement.

Continue to secure page »

1
Select an amount
2
How often
3
Payment details
Back to top