Political Science Department

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Candidate forums begin this week

Monday, Oct. 18, 7 to 8:30 p.m., the Western Washington University Ralph Munro Institute/City of Bellingham candidate forum will feature questions from Advanced Placement government students as well as the public in Bellingham City Council chambers, 210 Lottie St. The event is free.

2010-10-04
Election battles could change shape of Olympia

There’s no doubt the national concern about the economy is “going to cream some incumbents,” said Todd Donovan, a political science professor at Western Washington University.

But he said Democrats could do better than they did in the primary, when GOP turnout was likely boosted by a…

2010-10-04
Candidate endorsements don't always have intended effect

A Western Washington University political scientist has looked at the ways voters sort through initiatives and believes endorsements are important cues. In fact, says Todd Donovan, voters do what legislators do when they are faced with a large number of complex decisions – they seek shortcuts…

2010-09-16
Money pours into initiative campaigns

The soda industry has become aggressive in fighting any new tax around the country as legislatures and Congress looks for new sources of money to balance budgets, Todd Donovan, political science professor at Western Washington University, said. “They’ve got a target on their backs because you…

2010-09-08
Minnesota pushes back at partisan extremes

Academic researchers say there are too many other factors -- money and media being the chief ones -- to say whether such changes would temper the ideological fervor that has defined this election season. But either way, they expect to see proposals similar to ranked choice voting and Proposition…

2010-09-08
Established candidate beats the establishment’s candidate in 5th District primary

District voters last elected a Democrat — former state Sen. Kathleen Drew — in 1992. Dino Rossi edged out Drew four years later. Republicans rode to victory in ensuing elections for the statehouse seats.

While Anderson led the field by a large margin, that lead…

2010-09-02
Western races may hold key to Senate control

Todd Donovan, a political science professor at Western Washington University, said the state not only has a strong Republican base, but voters who are more than willing to toss out an incumbent, even one in a leadership position. House Speaker Tom Foley, a Democrat, lost his re-election bid in…

2010-09-02
Murray, Rossi go after each other, ignore others

A large field of candidates for the U.S. Senate won't be winnowed down to two until Tuesday's primary, but Patty Murray and Dino Rossi are acting like they're already in a head-to-head fight.

Blink and you might miss the efforts to be heard by the other 13 candidates, most…

2010-08-13
Students from Lynden, Ferndale win fair scholarships

Two Whatcom County high school graduates recently received $1,000 scholarships from the Northwest Washington Fair.

Elizabeth Kayser, Lynden High School, has been involved in a variety of different fair activities, but she really enjoys showing cattle. She plans to attend Western…

2010-08-11
Fall senate race already going strong

For a glimpse of the fall campaign, Western Washington University political science professor Todd Donovan says, look no further than the $750,000 television commercial an independent, GOP-led group has aired attacking Murray’s record on spending and taxes.

“That’s the general election…

2010-08-02
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