A Murray State political science professor is studying last night’s election results to learn what factors influence voter decisions.
The Republican Party saw numerous victories across the region, including Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell’s victory over Alison Lundergan Grimes.
Dr. Drew Seib visited WKMS for a Sounds Good interview Wednesday. He says incumbency holds a lot more power than people realize.
“Most people can’t name who their state legislator is. And to just have that name recognition in and of itself can mean a lot," Seib said.
"When you go to the ballot you go, 'Well, I know this name. Things are going OK in the state legislature. I'll just go ahead and vote for him.'"
Seib also says voters tend to associate candidates with the most recent president of their respective party.
A facet of McConnell's re-election campaign centered on linking Grimes to McConnell, something Seib says was effective.
In local returns, the Murray-Calloway County Parks Referendum Tax was shot down. About two in three voters rejected the measure that would impose a five cent tax per every $100 of assessed property.
Seib says even though the county hosts several thousand Democrats, many of them tend to be fiscally conservative.
"There's this reticence against another tax. You know [people are saying] 'It's more of my money going somewhere else,'" Seib said.
Republicans are poised to control Congress for the first time in eight years.
