Political Science Department

Election officials in Washington are already gearing up for next year’s presidential primary, even if the state’s two major political parties can’t agree whether or not the election matters.

County elections staff started training this week for what will be the…

This week, Pope Francis lands in the United States, a visit with deep significance for many Catholics.

Two months ago, Portland Mayor Charlie Hales took his own meaningful trip to meet the pope. Now that trip may become an issue in the mayor’s re-election bid.

Expressions of American pride come in many forms — some as simple as Fourth of July fireworks, others as courageous as the sacrifice made by the men and women in our armed forces. The list goes on and on, from exercising one’s right to vote to buying American-made goods (especially apple pie) to…

Despite the long and pretentious, preening moment of silence and quiet reflection the conservative caucus of the Whatcom Charter Review Commission invokes at the start of their meetings, caucus members nevertheless failed to gain divine insight on several key realities:

As the marijuana industry grows around the county, its political clout is growing, too. For members of Congress who are constantly fundraising, the industry offers new, high yield donors. But it also raises questions about the money’s source and what those donors expect in return.

I sat down on Wednesday to put in writing my own thoughts about the roiling debate over Rachel Dolezal’s decision to “pass for black.” Now the murder of nine African Americans in church by a white supremacist in Charleston, South Carolina, has made incessant analysis of Dolezal’s identity seem…