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.

"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

"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

"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