Just over a month ago, I was about to embark on my first trip to New Hampshire in January of a presidential election year with seventeen students in tow. We were to spend 16 days together for a January-term course titled New Hampshire Presidential Primary Politics. The course had several components including class in the…
In the basement of the Isle Casino Hotel in Davenport, Iowa, a precinct captain approached the podium in the front of the room in khakis and a maroon sweater. “Welcome to the caucuses for the 2020 presidential nominee in precinct B52.” Applause and cheering boomed throughout the room as voters shuffled to sit down to…
The presidential nominating caucus is facing increased scrutiny after the Democratic Party in Iowa experienced a number of technological challenges that delayed the tabulation of their final caucus results. Consequently, many eyes are on the remaining few US states and territories that still utilize a caucus system to allocate their delegates in the presidential nomination…
Utah is one of a handful of states seeking to increase its visibility in presidential politics by moving its primary date to “Super Tuesday” (March 3, 2020). States often seek to increase their prominence in the presidential nomination process by moving the date of the state’s primary as early as possible, a tactic known as…
Inspired by the legacy and lessons learned from the historic 1964 Freedom Summer, students from UC Santa Cruz and UC Merced took their energy and activism home to the Central Valley of California over the summer of 2018 as part of the Central Valley Freedom Summer (CVFS).[1] A participatory action research project, CVFS engaged students…
Aligning with the nationwide trend away from caucuses, Idaho will hold presidential primary elections for both parties on March 10. This is the first time since 1976 both parties in Idaho will have presidential primary elections. The Idaho Republican Party switched to a primary election in the 2016 presidential election. After the unwieldiness of the…
Guam, the southernmost island of the Mariåna island chain, is an unincorporated territory of the United States. Guam is home to approximately 160,000 people and its native, indigenous people are known as the CHamoru. Although Guam’s residents are citizens of the US, they do not vote for president nor do they have any real representation…
The Ohio primaries are almost here! As a political science professor, it is my goal to help make sure that students are empowered to participate. Although only the Democratic party will hold a presidential primary this year, it’s important for students of both parties to know about the process. Not only will the Republicans be…