Will a record number of incumbents be voted out of the U.S. Congress (House & Senate collectively) in November 2008?

Anyone know what the current record is?

how are we going to settle this?...i read yesterday that there's like 2dozen republican congressmen that aren't running for re-election, will they get counted for this question or does the incumbent have to run and lose the election

The previous two comments scream for definition ...

The question is just asking if the incumbents are being removed, it doesn't distinguish between those who aren't running for reelection. To be honest though I don't see how we will be able to find figures on this. I'll email a friend at Poltico.com and ask him if he knows where the figures could be found, if I don't get a good response though I'll void. I see a possible "spitzer" lurking in the background, its best we ask for confirmation from the creator. So Markov, what are your thoughts?

Ryan
Hubdub US Politics Content Editor

Good point on the distinction between getting voted out of office and just not running. The intention was to determine if a record number of incumbents would not be filling their former seats after the election. Since some incumbents will choose to retire rather than lose an election they are almost certain to lose the retirements should count toward the number. A better way to put it would have been: Will a record number of incumbents in the U.S. Congress (House & Senate collectively) no longer hold their office in the next Congress?

Unfortunately, I don't know yet how to determine what the previous record was.

Any update on determining the previous record?

Six to nine weeks have passed waiting for clarification/definition on this market ...