Americans' Views on Elected Officials and Congressional Terms

Americans express highly negative views of elected officials – and have grown increasingly pessimistic about their congressional representatives. In key California election results, Democrat Adam Schiff and Republican Steve Garvey emerge from the U.S. Senate primary. Democrat Tom Suozzi won a special election for a U.S. House seat in New York on Tuesday, coming out on top in a politically mixed suburban district.

The U.S. House of Representatives elected Republican Mike Johnson, a conservative with little leadership experience, as speaker on Wednesday. With an increasingly polarized Congress and fewer competitive elections, there are growing calls among some election reformers to change how representatives are chosen. A crowded field of candidates is running to fill the U.S. Senate seat held by the late Senator Dianne Feinstein for more than 30 years.

IndyStar reporters spent Election Day talking to voters, candidates, and poll workers. Here's what we saw and heard throughout the day and as the results poured in. This story has been updated with the correct name of the representative for Louisiana's 5th district. The 2024 House elections are just around the corner.

Candidates running for Rhode Island's open 1st Congressional District seat reveal why they believe they are the best candidate to go to Washington. The term length for a U.S. representative is two years, as mandated by the Constitution. This short term allows for representatives to be held accountable by their constituents more frequently.

In recent years, there has been discussion about potentially extending the term length for representatives to provide more stability and continuity in government. However, opponents argue that a longer term could lead to less responsiveness to the needs of the people.

Overall, the role of a U.S. representative is crucial in the functioning of our democracy, and the public's perception of these elected officials plays a significant role in shaping future elections and policies. It is essential for representatives to listen to their constituents and work towards the betterment of society as a whole.