UB Department of Political Science

03/12/2026

07/21/2025

Members of the Department of Political Science are saddened to learn of the passing of one of its most esteemed alumni, Professor Edward G. “Ted” Carmines. Ted earned his doctorate in political science at the University at Buffalo in 1975. As a graduate student, Ted published research on political methodology, political parties, and race in America. From UB, he embarked on a distinguished academic at Indiana University, where he remained on the faculty until his retirement earlier this year. Ted’s work on race, how it structures political competition, and its intersection with other issues, has made a lasting imprint on American politics and political science in general. Two of his books, Issue Evolution (with his Buffalo mentor Jim Stimson) and Reaching Beyond Race (with Paul Sniderman) won the American Political Science Association’s award for the Best Political Science Publication on U.S. National Policy. Ted was recognized with numerous accolades for his research, mentorship, and teaching at the national level, including election to the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, not to mention the UB Department of Political Science’s Distinguished Alumnus Award. The Department offers our condolences to Ted’s family, friends, colleagues, and students.

06/17/2025

06/16/2025

PSC Professor Shawn Donahue is quoted in this Bufalo News article regarding the current mayoral race in Buffalo.

In recent weeks candidates for mayor in Buff alo have gone into attack mode.

03/07/2025

UB political scientist Jacob Kathman believes renewed U.S.-Russia relationship might have deeper geostrategic consequences.
https://www.buffalo.edu/ubnow/spotlight.host.html/content/shared/university/news/ub-reporter-articles/stories/2025/02/qa-kathman-trump-putin.detail.html

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02/26/2025

Carla Martínez Machain, professor in the Department of Political Science, explains how a political scientist can help rebuild society at UB's 14th annual Life Raft Debate.
https://www.buffalo.edu/ubnow/ub-seen/slide-shows/2025/02/life-raft-debate-2025.html

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02/26/2025

NewsNation quoted Shawn Donahue, clinical assistant professor of political science, in an article examining President Donald Trump’s executive order on independent agencies.

Trump’s power grab follows the “unitary executive” theory, which places vast executive authority in the presidency.

11/22/2024

Jacob Neiheisel and Harvey Palmer from the Department of Political Science appeared before news media, providing insights on the election results.

UB political science and law experts provided insights to the media about former President Donald Trump’s victory over Vice President Kamala Harris.

10/24/2024

More than 60 countries are holding national elections in 2024, making it the largest election year in history. This webinar,presented by PSC Professor Tim Hellwig, takes stock of these contests with particular attention to their lessons for the health of democracy in the world. Examining outcomes in Europe, the Americas, and Asia, we will discuss whether the American presidential election is shaping up to be similar to or different from other 2024 elections.

2024 is the largest election year in history - with over 60 countries holding national elections. Timothy Hellwig, professor in the UB Department of Political Science, shares what has been learned from these elections so far and how the US elections are looking in comparison.

10/23/2024

PSC Professor Jim Battista was featured in WalletHub's recent article about States with the Most & Least Powerful Voters.

States With the Most & Least Powerful Voters in 2024