How to Choose A Senate Candidate

Senators craft laws and policies as part of the legislative branch.

Each state elects two candidates to the U.S. Senate. These senators are members of the legislative branch of government and serve six-year terms. According to the U.S. Senate, members are responsible for crafting and approving legislation, approving nominees for federal positions, impeaching federal officials and approving treaties. Electing a particular candidate is an important responsibility because relatively long terms allow senators to exert great influence on public policy.

Instructions

1. Compile a list of the political and cultural issues that are most important to you. Consider health care, economic policy, abortion rights, immigration, foreign policy, job creation, stance on gay marriage, environmental issues, national security and energy policy. Rank the issues from most important to least important.

2. Make notes of your position on each of the top five issues from your list. Write a few sentences about your personal stance on the issue. Think about the personal, religious and cultural factors that influence your beliefs and how important it is that a candidate share those characteristics. Use this list as a scorecard against which to evaluate the Senate candidates.

3. Read your state's ballot to determine how many candidates are running. Most congressional races have a Democratic and a Republican candidate, but several candidates from smaller parties may also run for office. Do not discount these third-party candidates, as they may better represent your personal stance on the issues.

4. Investigate each candidate by visiting her website, viewing campaign ads, reading newspaper articles and researching her previous voting history. Most states have televised debates between the candidates that clarify stances on key issues. Collect as much information as you can about the candidates before making a selection. Remain aware that advertising campaigns may include misinformation or distorted facts about the candidates.

5. Assess a candidate's campaign strategy. A Senate candidate who runs a straightforward, transparent campaign focusing on the issues may act similarly as a representative. Beware of candidates who refuse to meet with the press, decline to debate with an opponent or fail to take a stance on the issues.

Tips & Warnings

• Research a Senate candidate as soon as he announces a bid for office. Watching his campaign unfold allows you to make an educated vote on election day. Avoid waiting until the last minute, when attack ads and smear campaigns may make it difficult to focus on the issues.

References

• League of Women Voters: How to Choose a Candidate
• U.S. Senate: Powers and Procedure