Critics of voter ID laws and limits to mail-in voting argue that they reduce the likelihood people vote. Research in political science has found that this is not necessarily true. The biggest factor that determines whether people vote is their motivation to vote in the first place.
We spoke with UC Davis experts in history and political science about their worries and hopes for the 2026 midterm elections. Many shared a mutual concern that election results will be contested by either or both political parties. However, they also shared hopes that this election, whatever the results, would lead to a stronger nation and democracy.
How often do you talk politics with friends and family? How about with colleagues? Talking politics might lead to a disagreement, but political scientist Robert Huckfeldt believes that’s a good thing.
Can a sudden wave of news coverage sway the 2026 midterm election? Political scientist Amber Boydstun said a media storm could also make a difference depending on how close a race for Senate or U.S. House might be.
In Gender Bound, Joss T. Greene investigates how and why California prisons have attempted to manage gender nonconformity over the past eighty years and how incarcerated people have responded in turn.
Supreme Court rulings in recent years have ended key protections in the Voting Rights Act, potentially resulting in losses of representation for Black voters in southern states. Historian Gregory Downs said that these changes could be similar to the end of Reconstruction protections after the Civil War.
After nearly every midterm election following a new president taking office, his party loses legislative seats. While 2026 is unique, with nearly unprecedented efforts to change how voters elect their leaders, Republican losses are still likely despite these efforts to stem them.
Sociologist Ariana Valle spoke with 112 Latina and Puerto Rican activists in central Florida during the 2016 presidential election and learned how they supported their communities in a region politically and racially hostile to Latinos. The study was published recently in the UC Press journal Aztlan.
A new book by John Hawkins, Distinguished Professor of linguistics, untangles some of the fundamental linguistic issues underpinning cases involving high-profile clients including Hollywood celebrities, major league sports teams and some of the world’s largest corporations.
New research in communication finds that college students who are lonely tend to choose media likely to make them feel worse while those who are depressed or anxious tend to choose media that might improve their mood. Making different choices could increase people's chances to improve their mental health.
