(What is Civic Mind?  Read our welcome post for the series!) Recently, the governor of Florida gained attention for coordinating the transportation of a group of Venezuelan immigrants from Texas to Massachusetts.  This event is the most recent in the lengthy and often vitriolic debate over immigration policy.   The heated language and reactive responses from many in […]

(What is Civic Mind?  Read our welcome post for the series!) At the end of January, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf vetoed a plan proposed for the redrawing of congressional district boundaries (redistricting), setting up for the state courts to rule.  Although the plan was generated by an expert in redistricting issues, some observers were concerned that it […]

  (What is Civic Mind?  Read our welcome post for the series!) My name is … Conversation in the public sphere has recently revolved around fundamental questions of facts, made even more complicated by disinformation campaigns by foreign and domestic actors.  I would hazard to guess that many of us would treat our knowledge about our own […]

(What is Civic Mind?  Read our welcome post for the series!) In early February, reports surfaced that individuals who had served in the George W Bush administration left the Republican Party.  Although changes in party membership or registration can occur after elections, due to the reciprocal effect that electoral contexts have on party identification, the extent of […]

(What is Civic Mind?  Read our welcome post for the series!) (Note: The National Hockey League includes teams from the United States and Canada.  Canadian teams from the province of Quebec and their home facilities are known by the French versions of their name. The Buffalo Sabres, in their hometown abutting the US-Canadian border, also follow suit.) […]

(What is Civic Mind?  Read our welcome post for the series!) In the 1994 midterm, the Republican Party won majorities in both houses of Congress with larger margins than most electoral models predicted.  The incoming majority had formed a united campaign front with its Contract with America, staking out clear stances from its Democratic opponents.  Yet, by […]

Before diving into the topic of this month’s edition, I wanted to share two important items. 1. If you are eligible and have not yet done so, register to vote.  Ballotpedia, a respected non-partisan resource, offers helpful information about how to register in your state. 2. Consult reputable resources to learn more about candidates and […]

(What is Civic Mind?  Read our welcome post for the series!) This past spring, the coronavirus pandemic added a layer of difficulty for voters wishing to cast their ballots.  Already voters in Texas and other states have faced long lines in recent years, due to a decrease in the number of polling places. In April, Wisconsin voters […]

(What is Civic Mind?  Read our welcome post for the series!) As I have spent the last couple of weeks thinking deeply about the events that have given rise to the most recent round of social justice protests — the deaths of George Floyd, Breanna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery most recent in a long line of others — […]

  “Dewey beats Truman!” This headline, from the 1948 election, has become a historical lesson on the potential dangers of polls.  In this case, due to the lack of a representative sample and the ability to determine whose vote was decided and would be cast, the results did not accurately reflect the intentions of the […]

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