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

by Ronald Keith Gaddie author, Regulating Wetland Protection: Environmental Federalism and the Sta, Charles S. Bullock III

Overview

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780742508613
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	08/28/2000
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	256
Product dimensions:	5.78(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.56(d)

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.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Where the Action Is: Why Open Seats Jump-Start Congressional Careers
Chapter 2 Open Seat Congressional Elections: Are These Influenced by the Same Factors as Incumbent Elections?
Chapter 3 Candidates and Competition: Who Are They? Where Do They Come From?
Chapter 4 Investing in the Future
Chapter 5 Women and Open Seat Congressional Elections
Chapter 6 Special Elections: The Other Open Seats
Chapter 7 Understanding the Past, Predicting the Future
Chapter 8 Appendix: Forecasting Open Seat Vote
Chapter 9 Methodological Sources

Editorial Reviews

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. Nicholsn Political Science Review

InElections to Open Seats in the U.S. House Keith Gaddie and Chuck Bullock give us a sophisticated analysis of competitive U.S. congressional elections.. .. The authors have 'peeled away the cloak of incumbency' to reveal the electoral prospects of candidates with political experience and strong financial backing, the successes and future of women running for Congress, and the probable effects of term limits on congressional competitiveness. This book is an indispensable resource for students of congressional elections.

Samuel C. Patterson

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

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.

Congress & the Presidency

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.

American Review of Politics

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.

American Political Science Review - Stephen M. Nichols

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.

Congress and The Presidency

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.

American Review Of Politics

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, California State University

American Political Science Review