Elections to Open Seats in the U.S. House: Where the Action Is

Shifting the focal point from incumbency to open seat competition in the U.S. House of Representatives is the task this book embraces. In the process, the authors demonstrate the importance of candidates and competition, and the role of money, gender, and special elections in determining how open seats get filled and when partisan changes occur.

About the Author :
Ronald Keith Gaddie is associate professor of political science at the University of Oklahoma. Charles S. Bullock, III is Richard B. Russell Professor of Political Science at the University of Georgia.

Review :
Elections to Open Seats in the U.S. House is a book that every student of congressional elections should have on his or her shelf..... Gaddie and Bullock conduct an excellent and thought-provoking foray into this area that has been long overdue for such a focused exploration. Their analysis is sophisticated, but accessible, and should be on the reading list for all students of congressional elections.... Gaddie and Bullock provide coverage and analysis of key issues--from the emergence of candidates to the effect of previous political experience to financing to the influence of the election of women--in an often original and regularly enlightening fashion. Not only is this a book congressional scholars will want to have, but it can also serve as a research stimulus for students of congressional elections who are looking for new paths to explore....--Bruce I. Oppenheimer The analysis is methodologically sound and, in places highly sophisticated, yet the conclusions are not beyond the grasp of an educated lay person. . . . Overall, this work is a genuine contribution to the literature on congressional elections. The book makes a powerful case for studying open seat races and lays the groundwork for future exploration in the field. It deserves a spot in the library of all students of Congress and elections....--Stephen M. Nichols Whether installing a Republican majority or a Democratic majority, and whether loathing or liking Congress, citizens' attraction to congressional incumbents continues to dominate vote choice to such an extent that it is difficult to see the larger picture. By focusing on those races with no incumbent running, Gaddie and Bullock are able to provide a remarkably fresh look at the dynamics of modern House races. Along the way they offer surprising results and a clear refutation of the belief that there is nothing new to say about congressional elections...--John R. Hibbing, University of Nebraska