1.6. In the 1998 Minnesota gubernatorial election, there were three main candidates: Norm Coleman (the Republican), Jesse "The Body"

Ventura (an Independent), and Hubert Humphrey (the Democrat). Although we can't know for certain, the voters probably ranked the candidates in a way similar to that found in the table below. The table tells us, for example, that 35% of the voters ranked Coleman first, Humphrey second, and Ventura third; and 20%

of the voters ranked Ventura first, Coleman second, and Humphrey third; and so forth.

Rank 2

3 Minnesota Gubernatorial Election, 1998 35%

28%

20%

Coleman Humphrey Ventura 17%

Ventura Humphrey Coleman Coleman Humphrey Ventura Ventura Humphrey Coleman Political Economy and Public Choice • CHAPTER 1 9 • 383

a. Suppose the election is by plurality rule, which means that the candidate with the most first place votes wins the election. Who wins in this case?

b. In Challenge question 4, you were introduced to the Marquis de Condorcet. Today, voting theorists call a candidate a Condorcet winner if he or he can beat every other candidate in a eries of 1:1 or (Jace-qff" elections. Question 4 showed you that in some cases, there is no Condorcet winner. What about in the guber natorial election of 1998?

c.

A Condorcet winner beats every other candi date in a face-off. A Condorcet loser loses to every other candidate in a face-off. Was there a Condorcet loser in the 1998 Minnesota gu bernatorial election (given the preferences we have estimated)?

Jesse "The Body" Ventura. Who are you calling a loser?