Characteristics of Political Ambition of Iowa State Representatives

Abstract

My thesis is that the politically ambitious state representative is well-educated, urban and young. An attempt was also made to define other characteristics of ambition. The 100 state representatives were interviewed. Information on their backgrounds and how they operate as legislators were crosstabulated with answers on whether they are interested in seeking statewide or congressional office. Much of the statistical analysis was done by computer. The findings supported the thesis. In addition, the findings indicate that single persons and liberals are likely to be more ambitious than married persons and conservatives; that by occupational group farmers appear to be the least ambitious; that ambitious state representatives are more likely than non-ambitious representatives to vote for the statewide interest over the interest of their own legislative districts; that ambitious representatives are more likely to hold a legislative leadership position than are non-ambitious representatives; and other results of a less conclusive nature.