Politicians do whatever they want to do. Incumbents have enormous campaign funds, financed by special interests. Since most candidates and propositions win by thousands of votes, scholars speculate that people realize their vote won't make a difference. Maybe they vote for the entertainment value. April - Elections are about money.
Politicians compete in order to spend it.
It makes them powerful. It makes some of them rich. When you vote, you give them justification for spending your taxes. They always have enough mandate, but never enough money. Politicians want you to think you're going to get a free lunch.