Campaign funds help candidates boost their name recognition through mailers, yard signs and other means, said Stephen J. Farnsworth, professor of political science and international affairs at the University of Mary Washington.
“In politics, people will pretty consistently vote for the name they know over the name they don’t,” Farnsworth said.
Name recognition is particularly important “in a place like Loudoun, where a lot of people may not have a long history with the politics of the county,” Farnsworth said. “A lot of politicians, even incumbent officeholders, have to reintroduce themselves.”
