Although state prosecutors play a critically important role in the U.S. criminal justice system, these elections have received limited scholarly attention. Prosecutor elections historically have been dominated by men but
Mar 2026
The Stuck Electorate: Polarization, Nationalization, and the Consolidation of Party in the Trump Era
The 2024 presidential election unfolded under extraordinary circumstances—the mid-campaign withdrawal of an incumbent president, the nomination of the first woman of color by a major party, and the reelection of
Dec 2025
Peeking Behind the Curtain: The Federal Bureaucracy, Transparency, and Judicial Oversight
From refusing to voluntarily release White House visitor logs (Kennedy 2017) to alleged overuse of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) document redactions process (Evers 2020), the first Trump Administration
Dec 2025
In recent decades, US politics has become increasingly fraught and divided. This book evaluates the current state of American democracy, centered on the theme of polarization and dysfunction, through key
Nov 2025
Research shows that women’s inclusion in decision-making bodies that produce anti-feminist policies can legitimize policies and institutions. When a woman attorney advocates for an anti-feminist outcome in the judiciary, are
Sep 2025
Since the 1920s, the roll call voting record has influenced American politics. Using recorded votes, candidates attack electoral opponents, interest groups attempt to drum up financial or electoral support for
Jul 2025
The President’s Influence on Congressional Candidate Evaluations
Contemporary congressional elections can be fairly described as not only nationalized, but also increasingly president-centric. While the implications of nationalization for both candidates’ electoral prospects and voter decision-making have been
May 2025
Quick to Judge? Confirmation by Cloture in the Post-Nuclear Senate
The 2013 Senate rules change transformed the judicial confirmation process by lowering the effective vote threshold for success. Presidents with supportive Senate majorities may now bypass filibusters and confirm nominees
Apr 2025
Building a Record: Amending Activity, Position Taking, and the Seventeenth Amendment
Reelection is frequently viewed as the most important goal for members of Congress, and to be reelected, members take positions that are in line with that of their constituencies. We
Feb 2025
The Trump Effect: Nationalized Narratives and Congressional Outcomes in the 2024 Elections
The 2024 elections resulted in a rightward shift, with Republicans taking back both the presidency and Senate while holding onto a very slim majority in the House of Representatives. Despite
