ABSTRACT
The Democratic Party vowed to target House impeachment managers for their role in pursuing President Clinton in 1998. Vulnerable incumbents were also targeted. This vow to focus on the Impeachment managers and vulnerable Republicans who supported their efforts is direct evidence that impeachment politics permeated the 2000 elections. Participation in the impeachment proceedings after the 1998 election did not contribute to attracting a quality challenger or lessening of vote share in 2000. An examination of 2000 reveals that there were few opportunities for establishing a clear governing coalition. Moreover, incumbents who attracted challengers were rarely threatened. The election analysis that follows examines the competition for open seats then moves toward a broader analysis of strategies and choices. On the whole, factors such as the lack of retirement, misaligned seats, and ambitious candidates foretold the outcome of the 2000 House elections.
