View the Table of Contents.   Read the Chapter One.

Running for Judge is an important source of empirical data about judicial elections. Anyone who studies the topic should have a copy.
—New York Law Journal

This book offers a variety of insights by professors across the country on issues that are becoming increasingly important in judicial elections. . . . The collection will interest scholars and students of federalism, judicial politics and state politics in general.
—Campaigns & Elections

The book does a wonderful job of bringing the different research projects together. All the chapters provide detailed and timely information in an effort to explain recent developments in judicial elections....This is a comprehensive, well-written book.
—Law & Politics Book Review

This outstanding collection of essays provides new insight into one of the most important features of the American judicial system. Matthew J. Streb has assembled a first-rate set of contributors who offer a fascinating exploration of the institutions, incentives, and democratic consequences of electing judges.
—Kevin T. McGuire, author of Understanding the U.S. Supreme Court

A timely and important addition to the literature on state courts and judicial politics by a stellar team of contributors. New research is presented on a range of issues that will interest scholars and students not only of courts but state politics more generally.
—David M. O'Brien, author of Storm Center: The Supreme Court in American Politics

Across the country, races for judgeships are becoming more and more politically contested. As a result, several states and cities are now considering judicial election reform. Running for Judge examines the increasingly contentious judicial elections over the last twenty-five years by providing a timely, insightful analysis of judicial elections. The book ties together the current state of the judicial elections literature, and presents new evidence on a wide range of important topics, including: the history of judicial elections; an understanding of the types of judicial elections; electoral competition during races; the increasing importance of campaign financing; voting in judicial elections; the role interest groups play in supporting candidates; party organizing in supposedly non-partisan elections; judicial accountability; media coverage; and judicial reform of elections.

Running for Judge is an engaging, accessible, empirical analysis of the major issues surrounding judicial elections, with contributions from prominent scholars in the fields of judicial politics, political behavior, and law.

Contributors: Lawrence Baum, Chris W. Bonneau, Brent D. Boyea, Paul Brace, Rachel P. Caufield, Jennifer Segal Diascro, Brian Frederick, Deborah Goldberg, Melinda Gann Hall, Richard L. Hasen, David Klein, Brian F. Schaffner, and Matthew J. Streb.

Matthew J. Streb is Assistant Professor of Political Science at Northern Illinois University. He is the author or editor of several books including The New Electoral Politics of Race and Academic Freedom at the Dawn of a New Century: How Terrorism, Governments, And Culture Wars Impact Free Speech.