Choosing to Run: Why House Members Seek Election to the Senate

This paper considers the factors that influence whether a member of the United States House of Representatives runs for the Senate, including personal circumstances, the opportunity structure, and political factors. It concludes that many specific conditions do have an influence on the desire of a House member to exercise progressive ambition, but that the process of decision making is fluid and individualistic. Potential candidates not only are influenced by conditions, but have the ability to act so as to promote opportunity for themselves.