American politics traditionally focuses representation on policy responsiveness alone. But this paper argues that legislators rely on four dimensions—policy, service, allocation, and descriptive—to secure reelection.

👉 Research Approach

Using survey experiments with 1,175 state legislators revealed how institutions, district demand, and individual traits shape these representational priorities strategically.

📊 Key Insights from Data

Legislative structures influence representation strategies—legislators weigh factors like constituent demands, institutional constraints, and personal characteristics differently for re-election purposes.

🔍 Broader Significance

This study demonstrates that political representation isn't just policy—it's a complex interplay of dimensions aimed at electoral success.