PoliticalScience

On October 22, the Baltimore Sun published an article about Baltimore County campaign signs and how some are set up in a way to display bipartisanship. Laura Hussey, an associate professor of political science, was quoted in the article and discussed Democrat Tom Quirk’s campaign signs being placed near Republican Joseph Hooe’s. Quirk is running for re-election as 1st District County Councilman, and Hooe is running for state delegate in District 12. Hussey said it’s not unusual for candidates to tout their work across party lines. “It may influence voters’ perceptions of a candidate’s character traits, and these traits are a factor in… Continue Reading Laura Hussey, Political Science, in the Baltimore Sun and Herald-Mail

An article published October 19 in The Hill examines several elections in the South where Democratic candidates have close ties to Bill and Hillary Clinton in states such as Arkansas and Kentucky. The article mentions how it may be difficult for Democratic candidates in those states to distance themselves from an unpopular current president. Thomas Schaller, professor and chair of political science, was interviewed for the article and said, “I’m constantly puzzled when other people are surprised that there hasn’t been this Democratic revival in the South.” Schaller has argued that Democrats should make the South less of a priority in winning… Continue Reading Thomas Schaller, Political Science, in The Hill

In his latest column in the Baltimore Sun, Political Science Professor and Chair Thomas Schaller writes about the increasingly competitive Maryland gubernatorial election. He compares the campaign strategy of Connie Morella, a former moderate Republican congresswoman from Maryland’s 8th District, to Republican candidate Larry Hogan, stating that Hogan needs to focus on certain issues to have a chance at winning the election. “The Sun’s new poll shows Mr. Brown leading Mr. Hogan statewide by 7 points, a margin similar to the average yielded by the three previous statewide polls. Among men, Mr. Hogan leads by 8 points, 43 percent to 35 percent,”… Continue Reading Thomas Schaller, Political Science, Op-Ed in the Baltimore Sun

An article published October 9 in the Washington Post examined several gubernatorial races in the Northeast where voter unrest has put a number of contests in play in states where Democrats ordinarily win. The article focused on Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut and Maryland as states where this phenomenon is taking place. A recent Washington Post poll showed Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown leading opponent Larry Hogan by a 47 percent to 38 percent margin among likely voters in Maryland. Political Science Professor and Chair Thomas Schaller was interviewed for the article and said, “people in Maryland, including some Democrats, are bemoaning an uninspired, run-the-clock-out campaign by… Continue Reading Thomas Schaller, Political Science, in the Washington Post

Political Science Professor and Chair Thomas Schaller writes about his views on religion, war and the political practices of ISIS in his latest column in The Baltimore Sun. Schaller notes the dangerous nature of what ISIS purports to want: a return to the era of Islamic caliphates. “Political leaders hungry for power and control often peddle to potential followers the intoxicating promise of reviving a high-varnished, glorified past that never really existed,” he writes. “Such delusions often turn lethal, especially when revanchist aspirations cannot be delivered to adherents and are met with resistance from opponents.” To read “The Islamic State’s… Continue Reading Thomas Schaller, Political Science, Op-Ed in The Baltimore Sun

In his latest column in the Baltimore Sun, Political Science Professor and Chair Thomas Schaller writes about his views on the American justice system in the wake of the Michael Brown and Ray Rice news stories in recent weeks. In the column, Schaller notes, “we remain far from the perfect union to which our Constitution aspires. To get there, we must demand a justice system that’s blind not only to gender, race and socioeconomic status, but also the advantages conferred to some Americans by virtue of their affiliation with powerful institutions.” To read the complete op-ed titled, “Yet another social bias: institution-based… Continue Reading Thomas Schaller, Political Science, Op-Ed in the Baltimore Sun

Felipe Filomeno, an assistant professor of political science, participated in a United Nations Association consultation in Baltimore on Wednesday, September 17 at the Johns Hopkins offices in Fells Point. Filomeno, along with UMBC students and political science majors Aaron Kennett and Benjamin Fosbaugh, participated in a consultation along with representatives of other organizations (local government and NGOs) to provide input for the post-2015 global development agenda of the UN, considering the needs and interests of Baltimore. The meeting will be followed by a broader event to take place at the JHU Homewood Campus on Nov 11, in which Filomeno will serve as a… Continue Reading Felipe Filomeno, Political Science, Participates in United Nations Association Consultation with UMBC Students

An article published September 13 in the Herald-Mail examines Question 1 on the November 4 Election Day ballot for Maryland voters. The legislatively referred constitutional amendment seeks to ensure money from the state’s transportation fund will be used for transportation-related bond payments and for the construction and repair of highways. If approved, the measure would prevent money from the transportation fund being transferred to the state’s general fund or any non-transportation projects. Political Science Professor Roy Meyers was interviewed for the article and discussed his views on the measure: “I think that if the state had a bad year, it should be allowed to… Continue Reading Roy Meyers, Political Science, in the Herald-Mail

On Sunday, September 7, Political Science Professor and Chair Thomas Schaller appeared on MSNBC’s “Up with Steve Kornacki,” to analyze the future of the Democratic party in the South. Schaller is author of Whistling Past Dixie: How Democrats Can Win Without the South (Simon and Schuster 2006). Schaller participated in an engaging panel discussion with political consultant Steve Jarding, NBC News Senior Political Reporter Perry Bacon Jr., and MSNBC Political Analyst Joan Walsh. The group discussed what the 2016 presidential election could look like in the South for Hillary Clinton and how it may be different from the 2008 and 2012… Continue Reading Thomas Schaller, Political Science, on MSNBC

Research by Laura Hussey, an associate professor of political science, and Geoffrey Layman, a professor of political science at University of Notre Dame, was the focus of a recent article published in The Christian Post about voting habits of Catholics. In their research, Hussey and Layman found that a minority of Catholics were both pro-life and pro-welfare, and those that were showed little ambivalence in their vote choice. The following is an excerpt from the article which explains the reasoning for this that Hussey found from her research: “One reason, Hussey and Laymen found, is that PW/PL Catholics incorrectly assume that the Democratic… Continue Reading Laura Hussey, Political Science, in The Christian Post

In the wake of Horseshoe Casino opening in Baltimore last week, The Washington Post ran an article on September 3 focusing on Governor Martin O’Malley’s ambivalence toward Maryland’s slow embrace of casino gambling. Political Science Professor and Chair Thomas Schaller was interviewed for the story and commented on what the state’s soon-to-be ­$1 billion-a-year casino industry could mean for the governor as he considers a run for the White House. “It may not be something he wants to tout, but it’s absolutely part of his résumé,” said Schaller. “Maryland held out for a long time, and it’s now become a real player… Continue Reading Thomas Schaller, Political Science, in The Washington Post and The Baltimore Sun