A high incumbency rate refers to the percentage of elected officials who are reelected in a particular election cycle. It indicates that a large number of current officeholders are successful in retaining their positions.
Related terms
Gerrymandering: Gerrymandering is the manipulation of district boundaries to favor one political party or group over another. It can impact the incumbent's chances of getting reelected by altering the demographics within their constituency.
Name Recognition: Name recognition refers to how well voters know and remember a candidate's name. Incumbents often have an advantage in this area due to their previous experience and visibility in office.
Campaign Finance: Campaign finance refers to the funding of political campaigns. Incumbents generally have better access to fundraising resources, which can give them an edge over challengers in elections.