Research
My research focuses on American politics with particular emphasis on state and local politics, southern politics, and elections (often crossing over between these areas). I received Western Carolina University’s highest award in scholarship (University Scholar) in recognition of the impact of my work.
To date, my research has been published in over 50 peer-reviewed journal articles in Political Science, Public Administration, Sociology, Psychology, Geography, and related disciplines. I have also published one co-authored book (The Resilience of Southern Identity), and one co-edited book (The New Politics of North Carolina). A new book , Anatomy of a Purple State: A North Carolina Politics Primer, is forthcoming (& available for preorder) from UNC Press.
State & Local Politics
Most of my scholarship is focused on the state and local levels. Some of this work is comparative across multiple states and localities, and some of it is focused specifically on the case of North Carolina. Some recent work in this area has examined misinformation related to state legislative salaries, the consequences of gubernatorial appointments of US Senators, the adoption of Chief Diversity Officers in Local governments, and an attempt to create a measure of local legislative professionalism.
Southern Politics
As recent headlines over voting rights, confederate symbols, and the political relevance of southern identity can attest, southern politics remains distinct from politics in the rest of the country. My recent and current work in this area focuses on the politics of southern memory (see here also), the continued importance of southern identity, the relevance of the southern accents in campaigns and elections, the place of MAGA Republicans in the southern electorate, and the politics of a changing South. I am also working on a book manuscript examining the evolution of NC’s 11th congressional district. An article on the same subject recently appeared in the journal, The Forum.
Voting & Elections
I am interested in the ways in which the electoral process shapes how citizens are represented. Some recent work in this area has examined the rise in Unaffiliated voters, the effects of changes in early voting locations on turnout, a piece describing and analyzing a recent effort in North Carolina to build trust in elections., and an article on public opinion on redistricting in South Carolina (with data collected just before the recent Alexander decision).