Reply #2: Term Limits and Descriptive Representation [View All]

Incumbency is such a powerful force in determining elections in the US. I remember reading recently that upwards of 90 percent of incumbents who run are reelected. Originally many women's groups and minority groups supported term limits - as a way to get the old white guys out of office and unsher in a more diverse set of representatives. However, the preliminary evidence from the state legislatures suggests that term limits haven't had this effect. In many states there is actually a decrease in women and minority representation. The articles I read suggested that party recruitment strategies aren't really changing. The parties aren't grooming "nontraditional" candidates to hold these newly opened offices. It seems that even if term limits are extended to the national legislature, one would still have to worry about the way parties choose candidates.