One possible explanation for the reason why lawmakers do not prioritize pro-immigration reform when most people support it is because pro-immigration voters do not care much about immigration, whereas anti-immigration voters view it as their most important issue. Political scientist Alexander Kustov will examine the perceived importance of immigration issues among pro- and anti-immigration voters. He will conduct a survey with 2,700 participants for his study.

Individuals who are not attached to Democratic or Republican political ideology may identify as moderates or hold “cross-pressured” attachments – holding positions on issues that go against those typically held by their preferred partisan group. These individuals may therefore opt out of consuming political media or participating in online political spaces. Political scientist Katherine McCabe will examine the extent to which exposure to online political spaces increases the political engagement of politically moderate Reddit users.

In response to threats of violence and violent attacks against elected officials, some may limit their contact with constituents, change the issues they prioritize, or retire from public service. Political scientist Alexandra Filindra will investigate the prevalence of political threats/violence against elected officials and the personal and professional effects that direct and indirect (i.e., through the experiences of colleagues and members of professional networks) exposure may have on elected officials’ behavior.

By 2050, Whites are expected to become a minority in the United States and racial minorities are expected to become the majority. Political scientist Andrew Thompson will examine how this coming demographic shift impacts how Americans of color and White Americans think about racial identity and democracy. He will conduct a survey for his study.

The extent and quality of African Americans’ representation in local, state, and federal government remains understudied. Political scientists Mia Costa and Tatishe Nteta will conduct a study to determine which policy issues have been racialized as Black. They will then analyze correspondence with state legislators to determine whether this racialization impacts legislators’ responsiveness to these issues. 

For nearly 30 years, the Wake County Public County School System (WCPSS) in North Carolina operated an ambitious desegregation initiative, which included reassigning students to schools in order to achieve a target level of diversity in each of the county’s schools. However, in 2009, voters elected opponents of the efforts to the school board, who then ended the initiative the following year. Political scientist Deven Carlson and sociologist Thurston Domina will examine how school reassignments influenced voter participation over time.

Black women are disproportionately impacted by the criminal justice system. Political scientist Sally Nuamah will examine how experiences with the criminal justice system impacts political participation among Black women. She will develop and conduct a survey for her study.