Is the Future of the Democratic Party Bleak? It Depends Who You Ask.
We'll know in a few months whether Democratic leaders have lost control of their party.
Seth Masket
Seth Masket, a Pacific Standard contributor, is a political scientist at the University of Denver, specializing in political parties, state legislatures, campaigns and elections, and social networks. He is the author of No Middle Ground: How Informal Party Organizations Control Nominations and Polarize Legislatures.
When Henry Clay Led the #Resistance
To get a sense of the quandary facing the Democratic Party, look back two centuries, to the plight of the short-lived National Republican Party.
Why Are Democratic Leaders So Afraid to Speak Out Against the NFL?
When it comes to standing up against the NFL's new protest policy, many Democratic leaders have opted for passivity. But what if the importance of the middle ground has been substantially overstated?
How Functional Is the Democratic Party?
Some believe Democrats are now hampered by the same lack of coordination that gave Republicans a Trump nomination in 2016. But it's simply too soon to make that claim.
Breaking Down Colorado's Surprisingly Productive 2018 Legislative Session
Colorado's legislature had a productive year. But, because of the state's term limits, that output probably won't last.
How Colorado Is Trying to Bring Unaffiliated Voters Into the Primary Election Fold
Colorado is attempting an unusual style of primary election next month: allowing unaffiliated voters to choose which primary they'd like to vote in. What does that mean for politics in the Centennial State?
Is It Really So Bad for Party Leaders to Pick Primary Favorites?
In most states, primary elections make official just who gets to call themselves the Democratic or Republican nominee. But that doesn't mean party leaders have to be neutral in those contests.
In Colorado, Labor Reform Has Created a Huge Rift on the Left
Sharp divisions between labor unions and reformers threaten to tear apart the Democratic Party in the Centennial State.
We Need to Make Sure Student Interns Are Not Being Mistreated in Statehouses
There's not been a sudden spike in sexual harassment within our state legislatures; this has been going on for decades. And professors who help send students to statehouse internships need to be mindful of that fact.
The Decline of Local News Is Bad for Democracy
Tracking the events in state legislatures and city councils requires skilled beat reporters. They're becoming an increasingly rare breed.
Parties, Not Voters, Perform the Organizational Work of Democracy
In politics, individuality is overrated.
A Case for Keeping Primary Voting Confined to Party Members
Political parties at every level of government choose their nominees through primaries. That's the most important decision a party can make—and an organization's most important decisions should be made by members of that organization.
Is the Liberal Order Really in Crisis?
When considering Trump's behavior, it is important that we distinguish between those actions that are simply policy preferences and those that are, in fact, illiberal.
The Unrealized Promise of Joe Biden
Many Democratic operatives see the former vice president as a potential 2020 presidential nominee. But he would come with plenty of baggage.
Here's How a Responsible GOP Might Behave
For an alternate party response to an unsavory candidate's nomination, look to the actions taken by Colorado Republicans during the 2010 governor's race.
Breaking Down the Democrats' Prospects for 2018
The Democrats have a good chance of re-taking the House of Representatives.
The Norms We Won't Miss
Donald Trump has upended our view of the presidency. Are there some conventions that are better off dead?
Trump Is Unraveling the Foundational Stitchings of American Scholarship
Trump is forcing academics to re-evaluate their roles as beacons of information.
Trump's Last Speech to Congress Was Remarkably Unremarkable
Donald Trump will deliver his first State of the Union address tomorrow. Last year's (well-received) speech before Congress can serve as a blueprint for what we can expect to hear.
How Democrats Are Reshaping Their Party
Over the past year, the Democratic Unity Reform Commission has been trying to tackle the party's contentious nomination process. But who stands to benefit from any changes?
The Electability Fallacy
Politicos had long held a candidate's electability to be as important as their ideology. Then Donald Trump came along.
It's Actually Pretty Normal to Think You're a Genius After Winning an Election
Sure, Trump's recent comments on his own brilliance might sound vexing. But candidates (and pundits) are always getting caught up in post-election narratives.
The Price He Will Pay
President Donald Trump's main legacy will likely be a series of new laws and practices designed to prevent someone like him from abusing power or even obtaining it in the first place.
What's With All the Candidates?
There are a number of peculiar factors operating in today's political environment that have had the effect of boosting interest in running for office. But at what cost?
Why Liberals and Conservatives Act Differently About Sexual Predators
Capitol Hill and Hollywood are laying out two very different blueprints for dealing with sexual assault allegations.
What to Make of Sarah Huckabee Sanders' Beer-Tax Analogy
It tells us a lot—none of it particularly good—about how she approaches her job as press secretary.
This Is a Good Way to Create a Legitimacy Crisis
The indictment of Paul Manafort should signal the Trump administration's suspect role in the 2016 election. But for many, it won't.
Meet Fox News, Our Director of National Policy
Whoever sets the president's agenda possesses a great deal of power. Often, that role belongs to the major political parties, or the president's most immediate set of advisers—but Trump's relationship with both is tenuous at best.
Should We Fear Article V?
We're closer to a constitutional convention, where any new amendment could be put before a simple majority vote, than you might realize.
How Leisure Time Transformed Society and Politics
With their newfound spare time in the post-war era, many Americans joined clubs and started attending meetings that rapidly changed political parties in the United States.
When Celebrities Get Political
Celebrity political activity has been quite common for a long time. But with an atypical entertainer in the White House, we're seeing something different today.
Is Trump Drowning Out Other News?
The president has an unusual ability to draw attention to himself, but news coverage is finite, and other issues may be getting less attention as a result.
The Silencing of Hillary Clinton
Addressing the primary criticisms of Clinton's historic run for the presidency.
Letters to a Young Blogger
For academics looking to play a larger public role, publishing online can be a useful counter to some of the downsides of scholarly writing.
The Siren Song of the Bipartisan Unity Ticket
While a unity ticket sounds exciting during a campaign, how exactly would governing work?
The Dangers of a Weakened President
Even if no one—inside or outside of the federal government—takes Donald Trump seriously, he could still cause a great deal of damage.
When Polarization Isn't the Problem: Seeing Charlottesville for What It Really Is
When violent white supremacists attack and kill people, criticizing divisiveness and urging people to unite is, at best, a dodge.
How to Improve the Primary Process? Make It Less Democratic.
It sounds counterintuitive—and would be a hard sell—but making the way the two major political parties nominate candidates less traditionally democratic could also make it more open to compromise and negotiation.
Picking a Primary by Mail—How's That Going to Work?
Next spring, expect political reformers to have all eyes on Colorado's unusual new open primary system to see if it causes more harm than good.
Is Mitch McConnell Any Good at His Job?
Conservative coalitions tend to define themselves in terms of negative power, but stopping legislation is far easier than passing it.
The Battle Over Conservatism
It is not an exaggeration to say that conservatism is experiencing a civil war in the Trump era, with William F. Buckley on one side and Sean Hannity on the other.
How to Chair a University Department and Not Be Terrible at It
Lessons from five years running a political science department that could apply to almost any job in management.
Should We Child-Proof the Presidency?
Trump's Twitter feed has some calling for a ban on the president's use of social media, but that—and other restrictions—could set a dangerous precedent.
Imagine There's No Majority
A new group aims to empower moderate politicians, but it's unclear how their success would affect government.
What Typos Can Tell Us About This White House
Typos in official correspondence are tiny errors on their own, but they suggest a much larger problem within the administration.
Trump Won't Drop Twitter, but Twitter Should Drop Trump
In his late-night and early morning messages, the president has undoubtedly and repeatedly violated several of the social media platform's abusive behavior clauses.
Polarization and Productivity: A Divided Legislature Isn't Always an Ineffective One
Legislative productivity is contingent on much more than simply having the numbers.
Why Angela Merkel's Concerns Are So Concerning
If it is politically harmful for America's allies to be seen supporting America's president, those alliances are not long for this world.
A Legislature Can Be Both Polarized and Productive
Look to the Colorado state legislature, which just closed its 2017 session, for lessons on how to put an end to gridlock in Washington, D.C.