Ballotpedia: How we select noteworthy candidates
Battleground elections—those we expect to have a meaningful effect on the balance of power in governments or to be particularly competitive or compelling—receive additional coverage and emphasis on Ballotpedia. Within our coverage of those elections, noteworthy candidates may also receive additional coverage and emphasis compared to other candidates running. This article summarizes Ballotpedia's approach to selecting these noteworthy candidates. The criteria below function as general guidelines for evaluating unique elections, rather than as strict rules.
For information on our approach in presidential elections, click here.
For battleground general elections, we consider all major party candidates and any other candidates with the potential to affect the outcome of the race as noteworthy candidates.
For battleground primary elections, we consider a candidate's credentials and experience, polling, fundraising, and noteworthy endorsements. These criteria are detailed below.
- Candidate credentials and experience: Currently or previously holding an office such as Congress, state executive, or state legislator.
- Polling: Competitive performance in one or more published poll in the race.
- Fundraising: Fundraising levels comparable to other noteworthy candidates in the race. Self-funded candidates may also be considered.
- Noteworthy endorsements: Receiving at least one noteworthy endorsement, such as one from the current officeholder, a newspaper editorial board, or a political party.
See also
- Ballotpedia: Our definition of candidacy
- Ballotpedia's approach to covering polls
- Ballotpedia's approach to primaries
- Ballotpedia:Our approach to covering endorsements
- Ballotpedia's editorial independence policy
Footnotes
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