ABSTRACT
When the Tea Party first formulated, pundits, scholars, and Democrats seemingly wrote the movement off as nothing but a collection of crazy extremists. Rather than seeing the beginning of a strong social movement that would have electoral impacts across the country, Tea Party members were instead viewed as being out of touch and unable to articulate their message in a meaningful way. Then the 2010 midterm elections took place. Through the results of the outcome of that election cycle, the Tea Party was able to successfully demonstrate just how seriously its movement deserved to be taken. Now, two years later, the initial excitement (and corresponding media coverage) of the Tea Party has lessened. But the national movement is still having an impact on politics and policy. The Tea Party has used its influence within government (through officials elected in 2010) and within a new wave of candidates to demonstrate that it is more than just a one-hit wonder.
