RESEARCH AREAS

Politics and Elections

AEI is home to several prominent political analysts, whose work focuses on U.S. elections, proposals for reforming political institutions and campaign finance, and trends in politics and public opinion. This section of the website gathers together AEI research, books, and events focused on politics and elections.

Feature: Gubernatorial Contests

iStockphoto/Wendy Miranda

In recent columns, Michael Barone and Norman J. Ornstein analyzed the results of the November 3 gubernatorial contests in Virginia and New Jersey and what they mean for the Obama administration going forward. In the latest edition of AEI's Political Report, the editors take a broader look at current politics, examining the polls on President Obama and his standing with the public, attitudes toward Congress and the political parties, views on the health care debate and concerns about government spending in the stimulus package.

Va., N.J. Races Show Voters Changing Course | Michael Barone

Results Won't Change Congress, but Election Has Many Implications | Norman J. Ornstein

Scholars on Politics and Elections

Recent Publications

All (Opposition) Politics Is Local

By Newt Gingrich
Washington Examiner
Friday, November 20, 2009

The alternative to big government isn't no government. It's something increasing numbers of Americans are calling "localism."

Obama's Record So Far: A on Transparency, D on Appointments

By Norman J. Ornstein
Roll Call
Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Ten months into the Obama presidency, there have been impressive successes on the government-reform front, and at least one place where the failure to move quickly has seriously hampered the Obama presidency and the implementation of good policy.

Delayed Childbearing and Voting Behavior

By Michael Barone
The American
Tuesday, November 17, 2009

The correlation between religious and moral values and voting behavior was not operative a generation ago.

Sarah's Choice

By David Frum
National Post
Saturday, November 14, 2009

As Sarah Palin planned her comeback strategy, she could have learned a lot from Bill Clinton.

» List all Recent Publications

Books

Better Parties, Better Government A Realistic Program for Campaign Finance Reform

By Peter J. Wallison , Joel M. Gora
AEI Press
(April 2009)

This volume explains how to reform our current campaign finance system with a single change: ending the restrictions on spending by political parties in support of their candidates.

Vital Statistics on Congress 2008

By Norman J. Ornstein , Thomas Mann, Michael Malbin
Brookings Institution Press
(August 2008)

The authors combine historical context with insightful analysis and copious data to produce a valuable and authoritative picture of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives.

Fighting Words A Tale of How Liberals Created Neo-Conservatism

By Ben J. Wattenberg
St. Martin's Press/Thomas Dunne Books
(July 2008)

Replete with stories never told before, Fighting Words is Wattenberg's firsthand account of the remarkable transformation of American politics over the last four decades.

» List all Books

Events

UPCOMING EVENTS

Conservatism and the Quest for Community

Tuesday, December 8, 2009
05:30 PM - 07:00 PM

Please note that the date of the December Bradley Lecture has changed. It will be held on Tuesday, December 8.

» List all Upcoming Events

PAST EVENTS

Obama Trade Policy: An Assessment at Six Months

Wednesday, August 12, 2009
10:00 AM - 11:45 AM

At this event, a group of trade policy experts will assess the challenges facing the administration on trade policy and the Obama administration's options in this area going forward.

Preserving Our Institutions: Presidential Succession

Thursday, July 2, 2009
09:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Panelists will discuss a new report by the AEI-Brookings Continuity of Government Commission that examines vulnerabilities in the U.S. presidential succession.

» List all Past Events