Political experience has traditionally been viewed as an asset for politicians, often linked to greater power and electoral success. However, in an era marked by anti-establishment sentiments and demands for political renewal, seniority may no longer provide unambiguous advantages. Recent research highlights the growing electoral appeal of young, inexperienced (male) candidates, yet little is known about how politicians themselves perceive the role of seniority. This paper investigates whether politicians consider seniority to be an advantage or disadvantage in nomination processes and examines the factors shaping these perceptions.
We draw on data on how politicians describe seniority in open-ended survey questions and on a survey experiment both embedded in the Norwegian Panel of Representatives (PER), to study the interplay of political career stages, gender and ideology in shaping views of seniority and its advantages. By considering the "internalist view" of politicians, the analysis contributes to our understanding of meso- and individual-level factors perceived as influencing candidate selection. The findings reveal nuanced and intersectional patterns in the perceived advantages of seniority versus newcomer status.
By analyzing how political actors interpret and navigate the dynamics of seniority and newness, the study contributes a new perspective on candidate selection and elite behavior offering critical insights into perceived and structural barriers shaping representation in times of political flux.