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Brian Schaffner

Brian Schaffner is the Newhouse Professor of Civic Studies in Political Science and Tisch College at Tufts University and the co-director of the Cooperative Election Study. His research focuses on public opinion, campaigns and elections, political parties, and race and prejudice in American politics. He is co-author of the books Hometown Inequality: Race, Class, and Representation in American Local Politics and Campaign Finance and Political Polarization: When Purists Prevail. He is currently an Andrew Carnegie Fellow.


Secular Democrats are on the rise

Fewer Democrats identify as religious. That’s creating tension with Black voters.

Many Trump supporters now think U.S. elections are fair

But they still trust U.S. elections less than Harris supporters.

Trump also captured the support of those who stayed home on Nov. 5

But nonvoters in the last election still preferred Democrats in down-ballot races.

Democrats’ losses among Hispanic voters may be larger than they look

Conservative Hispanic Americans are ditching their Hispanic identity, surveys show.

Trump’s policies are endangering the economy

And it might cost Republicans in the 2026 midterms.

Surprise, there’s an unlikely immigration consensus in America

But it may still not be enough to lead to a big policy shift.

A lot of Democrats might agree with Trump about TikTok

But here’s why the TikTok drama isn’t likely to mark a significant political move.

Pollsters weighted more in 2024 – and it helped

Adjustments for education and past vote made national and state polls more accurate.

Democrats bet big on abortion in 2024. Voters had other priorities.

This issue helped Democratic House candidates, but not Kamala Harris.

Are undecided voters still weighing their choices?

Our research on this group of potential voters yields some big clues.