Research
I study local (primarily cities) and state politics in the United States. My research examines how information and institutions shape the decisions of both voters and officials in “low-visibility” electoral and policymaking contexts, spanning topics in representation & accountability, voting behavior, public opinion, political geography and racial/ethnic politics.
Peer-Reviewed Articles
When Cues Collide: Partisan Signals and the Dynamics of Ethnic Voting in Nonpartisan Local Elections
Urban Affairs Review 0(0): 1–35. (OnlineFirst, 2026)
Published version | Replication data
Abstract
Voters often use candidate ethnicity as a shortcut in low-information elections, but partisan cues might shift the weight of ethnic signals. This article examines how partisan information moderates the relationship between co-ethnicity and vote choice in 103 multiethnic, nonpartisan mayoral elections in California (2010–2021). Using precinct-level election returns and voter registration data, I find that Latino candidates receive greater support as the share of Latino registrants in a precinct increases — but this relationship changes when party information is revealed. When facing a known non-Latino Democrat, Latino candidates receive less support than their nonpartisan counterparts; when facing a known non-Latino Republican, they gain support. These effects are strongest in precincts with more Latino Democrats. The findings highlight how party cues reshape ethnic voting, even without formal partisan labels.
Articles Under Review
The Boy-Who-Cried-Wolf Effect: Examining the Consequences of Contentious Allegations of Prejudice
With Clayton Becker, Josh Goetz, Ananya Hariharan, Emily Ortiz, and Connor Warshauer. Under review.
Economic Self-Interest and Support for Redistribution: New Evidence Using Election Results Data
With Jieun Lee, Ben Newman, and G. Agustin Markarian. Invited to revise and resubmit at American Political Science Review.
Papers in Progress
How Responsive is US Municipal Fiscal Policy to Residents’ Partisanship Across Time and Even in Small Towns?
With Adam Dynes and Graham Strauss. Working paper.
