Jamie L. Carson -

UGA Athletic Association Professor in Public and International Affairs IIProfessor of Political Science

Jamie Carson is a Professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Georgia. He received his Ph.D. from Michigan State University in 2003, where he was a fellow in the Political Institutions and Public Choice Program. He has worked at the University of Georgia since August 2004, and his research interests include American politics and methods. He regularly teaches courses on the U.S. Congress, the presidency, the politics of congressional elections, and American political development.

Education

Ph.D, Michigan State University, Political Science, 2003
MA, Michigan State University, Political Science, 1999
MA, Western Illinois University, Political Science, 1996
BA, Western Illinois University, Political Science, 1994

More About

Professor Carson is an expert on congressional politics and elections, separation of powers, and American political development. He is broadly interested in electoral accountability, representation, and strategic behavior among political elites. He has published a wide variety of scholarly articles in academic journals including the American Political Science Review, American Journal of Political Science, Journal of Politics, Legislative Studies Quarterly, Political Research Quarterly, American Politics Research, State Politics and Policy Quarterly, and Political Analysis. His most recent book, Nationalized Politics: Evaluating Electoral Politics Across Time (with Joel Sievert and Ryan Williamson), was published by Oxford University Press in 2024. He is a co-author with Gary Jacobson on the 11th edition of The Politics of Congressional Elections (Roman & Littlefield) and co-author with John Aldrich, Brad Gomez, and Jennifer Merolla on Change and Continuity in the 2020 and 2022 Elections (Roman & Littlefield).

Areas of Expertise

Congressional politics
Congressional elections
U.S. Presidency
American political development
Separation of powers

Honors, Awards, and Achievements

Political Research Quarterly Outstanding Reviewer Award for 2018
Political Research Quarterly Outstanding Reviewer Award for 2014
Hahn-Sigelman Prize for the Best Article Published in American Politics Research in 2014 (with Trey Hood), for “Candidates, Competition, and the Partisan Press: Congressional Elections in the Early Antebellum Era”
School of Public and International Affairs Award for Excellence in Research, University of Georgia, 2012
School of Public and International Affairs Summer Research Grant, University of Georgia, 2012
Graduate School Outstanding Mentoring Award Recipient, University of Georgia, 2011
Political Research Quarterly Outstanding Reviewer Award, 2010
J. Hatten Howard III Honors Teaching Award Recipient, University of Georgia, 2009

Course Instruction

Research Interests

American Politics
Political Institutions (Congress, Presidency)
Congressional Elections
American Political Development
Methodology

Selected Publications

Carson, Jamie and Stewart Ulrich. 2024. “In the Shadow of Trump: The 2022 Midterm Elections.” Journal of Political Marketing, Forthcoming.
Carson, Jamie and Aaron Hitefield. 2023. “A Red Wave or a Ripple? Nationalized Politics and the 2022 Midterm Elections.” The Forum 21(1): 3-25.
Carson, Jamie, Spencer Hardin, and Aaron Hitefield. 2021. “You’re Fired! Donald Trump and the 2020 Congressional Elections.” The Forum 18(4): 627-650.
Byers, Jason, Jamie Carson, and Ryan Williamson. 2020. “Policymaking by the Executive: Examining the Fate of Presidential Agenda Items.” Congress & the Presidency 47(1): 1-31.
Carson, Jamie, Joel Sievert, and Ryan Williamson. 2020. “Nationalization and the Incumbency Advantage.” Political Research Quarterly 72(1): 156-168.
Carson, Jamie and Ryan Williamson. 2018. “Candidate Ideology and Electoral Success in Congressional Elections.” Public Choice 176(July): 175-192.
Carson, Jamie and Joel Sievert. 2017. “Congressional Candidates in the Era of Party Ballots.” Journal of Politics, 79(2): 534-545.
Carson, Jamie and Joel Sievert. 2015. “Electoral Reform and Changes in Legislative Behavior: Adoption of the Secret Ballot in Congressional Elections.” Legislative Studies Quarterly 40(1): 83-110.
Carson, Jamie, Michael Crespin, and Anthony Madonna. 2014. “Procedural Signaling, Party Loyalty, and Traceability in the U.S. House of Representatives.” Political Research Quarterly 67(4): 729-742.
Carson, Jamie, Michael Crespin, and Ryan Williamson. 2014. “Re-evaluating the Effects of Redistricting on Electoral Competition, 1972-2012.” State Politics and Policy Quarterly 14(2): 162-174.
Carson, Jamie and Stephen Pettigrew. 2013. “Strategic Politicians, Partisan Roll Calls, and the Tea Party: Evaluating the 2010 Midterm Elections. Electoral Studies 32(1): 26-36.
Carson, Jamie, Michael Crespin, Carrie Eaves, and Emily Wanless. 2012. “Constituency Congruency and Candidate Competition in Primary Elections for the U.S. House.” State Politics and Policy Quarterly 12(2): 127-145.
Carson, Jamie, Michael Lynch, and Anthony Madonna. 2011. “Coalition Formation in the House and Senate: Examining the Effect of Institutional Change on Major Legislation.” Journal of Politics 78(4): 1125-1138.
Carson, Jamie, Michael Crespin, Carrie Eaves, and Emily Wanless. 2011. “Constituency Congruency and Candidate Competition in U.S. House Elections.” Legislative Studies Quarterly 36(3): 461-482.
Carson, Jamie, Gregory Koger, Matthew Lebo, and Everett Young. 2010. “The Electoral Costs of Party Loyalty in Congress.” American Journal of Political Science 54(3): 598-616.
Carson, Jamie L., Erik J. Engstrom, and Jason M. Roberts. 2007. “Candidate Quality, the Personal Vote, and the Incumbency Advantage in Congress” 2007. American Political Science Review 101(2):289-301.
Carson, Jamie L., Erik J. Engstrom, and Jason M. Roberts. 2006. “Redistricting, Candidate Entry, and the Politics of Nineteenth Century U.S. House Elections.” American Journal of Political Science 50(2):283-293.
Carson, Jamie L. and Erik J. Engstrom. 2005. “Assessing the Electoral Connection: Evidence from the Early United States.” American Journal of Political Science 49: 746-757.
Jenkins, Jeffery A., Michael A. Crespin, and Jamie L. Carson. 2005. “Parties as Procedural Coalitions in Congress: An Examination of Differing Career Tracks.” Legislative Studies Quarterly 30: 365-389.
Carson, Jamie L. and Jason M. Roberts. 2005. “Strategic Politicians and U.S. House Elections, 1874-1914.” The Journal of Politics 67(May): 474-496.
Carson, Jamie L. 2005. “Strategy, Selection, and Candidate Competition in U.S. House and Senate Elections.” The Journal of Politics 67(February): 1-28.
Carson, Jamie L. and Michael H. Crespin. 2004. “Evaluating the Effects of State Redistricting Plans on Electoral Competition in U.S. House Races.” State Politics and Policy Quarterly 4(4):455-469.
Carson, Jamie L. 2003. “Strategic Interaction and Candidate Competition in U.S. House Elections: Empirical Applications of Probit and Strategic Probit Models.” 2003. Political Analysis 11(4): 368-380.
Carson, Jamie L., Jeffery A. Jenkins, David W. Rohde, and Mark A. Souva. 2001. “The Impact of National Tides and District-Level Effects on Electoral Outcomes: The U.S. Congressional Elections of 1862-1863.” American Journal of Political Science 45(4): 887-898.