About me
I am a Professor in the Department of Political Science and a Faculty Fellow and Associate Director at the Institute for Policy Research. My research explores a range of questions surrounding partisan conflict and the difficulty of reaching bipartisan agreements and legislative compromises in American politics. Current projects include research on primary elections and the rise of threats and violence against elected officials. I received my Ph.D. from Stanford University in 2009.
Overview
Research
My research examines what the public wants from their elected officials, how public opinion shapes the electoral incentives of legislators, and how these incentives are reflected in the legislative process.
Teaching
I teach undergraduate and graduate courses on American politics. Courses include Polisci 325: Congress and the Legislative Process, Polisci 395: Party Polarization, Polisci 411: Theories of American Political Institutions, and Polisci 405: Linear Models.
Media and Public Engagement
I am active in presenting my research to other scholars, speaking to the media about my research and American politics more broadly, and speaking with public groups interested in partisan conflict, primary elections, and gridlock in American politics.