A sophomore surge (sometimes referred to in the United Kingdom as first-term incumbency bonus[1][2]) is a term used in the political science of the United States Congress that refers to an increase in votes that congressional candidates (candidates for the House of Representatives) usually receive when running for their first re-election.
The phrase has been adopted in Australia by psephologist Malcolm Mackerras who is well known for his electoral pendulums.
[citation needed] (Over ninety percent of all incumbent House members are reelected.
[citation needed]) Senate members also currently benefit from a sophomore surge, though it is to a lesser degree.
They make use of their free, or “franked,” mail; frequent home trips; radio and television broadcasts; and service distribution to their districts in order to create a good opinion of themselves, not their party, among their constituents.