The U.S. Supreme Court. Shutterstock Kevin J. McMahon, Trinity College When I learned Justice Anthony Kennedy would retire, my thoughts went immediately to the confirmation of the newest justice, Neil Gorsuch. The Senate’s confirmation of Gorsuch was unprecedented in the history of the country. Never before had a “minority president” […] Read more »
An Electoral Fight Between Two Very Different Americas
The fight for control of Congress is being fought in two very different Americas. Of the 18 competitive and potentially competitive Senate races, those categorized in The Cook Political Report as Toss Up, Leaning, or Likely Democratic or Republican (so not Solid Democrat or Republican), just three are being fought […] Read more »
Pollsters Weigh In On NY-14 Primary Surprise
The outcome of the Democratic primary in New York’s 14th House District last month made headlines worldwide. The upset of a 20-year incumbent renewed debate over the validity of political polling . People took notice when 28-year-old Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez bumped off 10-term incumbent Congressman Joe Crowley 58 to 42 percent. […] Read more »
Most Americans oppose key parts of Trump immigration plans
Americans overwhelmingly oppose the Trump administration’s now-rescinded policy of separating immigrant children from their parents, and smaller majorities also disagree with the president’s call to build a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border and to restrict legal immigration by limiting citizens from bringing parents and siblings to this country, according to […] Read more »
Young Women Could Redefine The Women’s Vote
The 2018 midterm elections are shaping up to be a watershed year for women and politics. Not only are a record number of women running for political office in 2018, but many of them are running campaigns that tout the underrepresentation of women in an effort to galvanize the women’s […] Read more »
What Kennedy’s Retirement Means for the Midterms
What are the electoral implications of Justice Anthony Kennedy’s announcement that he will retire from the Supreme Court? With about a third fewer people voting in midterm than in presidential elections, who votes and who stays home this November is especially important. On April 10, this column noted the disparity […] Read more »