Incumbent

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Last Updated on April 1, 2025 by Hannah Seeley

An incumbent is a person who currently holds a position and is seeking re-election. Members often vote for incumbents because they have an established reputation and are already familiar with the position. However, it’s easy to become complacent, especially if your organization doesn’t have term limits and continues to elect the same incumbents every election. It’s important for organizations to provide a competitive election process, giving members a diverse candidate pool to encourage engagement and strong, evolving leadership.