Final answer:
The minimum amount a challenger for a House or Senate seat must be able to spend can vary, but in 2020, the average cost of running a successful House campaign was $2.4 million, and for Senate races, it was $27.2 million. Some strategies for challengers to make the race competitive include building grassroots support, emphasizing personal connections with voters, and utilizing social media.
Step-by-step explanation:
The minimum amount a challenger for a House or Senate seat must be able to spend to unseat an incumbent can vary depending on various factors such as the competitiveness of the race and the state in which it is held. However, campaign costs have been increasing over the years, and in 2020, the average cost of running a successful House campaign was $2.4 million, while for Senate races, it was $27.2 million. Incumbents generally have an advantage in fundraising, attracting more money because people want to give to a winner.
If you are a challenger running against an incumbent, some strategies you could use to make the race competitive include building a strong grassroots movement, emphasizing personal connections with voters, and utilizing social media and digital advertising to reach a wider audience. Congress may operate differently if challengers defeated incumbents more often, as it would lead to a higher turnover of elected officials and potentially change the dynamics of decision-making and power in Congress.