IGS in the News

In a roundup of news happening in Berkeley, Berkelside highlights the IGS Library Local Document Digitization Project (LoCalDig): Cal’s Institute of Governmental Studies Library has now digitized more than 5,000 local government documents from across California. (UC Berkeley)

The vast majority of California voters support expanding access to translated ballots for people who speak limited English, an effort that would likely increase turnout,a new poll found.

IGS Co-Director and Professor of Sociology, Cristina Mora, co-wrote an opinion essay in the LA Times on findings from Berkeley IGS Poll between August 2024 and May 2025. The finding show that, despite the tumultous transition between administrations, and the bellicose efforts of the second Trump administration, a majority of Californians, across the partisan aisle, and across all kinds of different groups and places, still support legislation that provides a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants.

IGS Co-Director Eric Schickler joined Nick Capodice and Hannah McCarthy on Civics 101: A Podcast to discuss congressional checks on presidential power and overreach. 

Checks and balances are at the absolute core of our governmental workings. 

In the aftermath of the 2024 general election, August Berkeley IGS poll data showing 60% of likely Los Angeles County voters thought public safety declined in the previous three years proves prophetic: Los Angeles elects former Republican candidate for California attorney general and federal prosecutor, Nathan Hochman as the new district attorney for the largest district in the nation.

California leaders are mobilizing to counter Donald Trump’s reelection, with Gov. Gavin Newsom and others preparing lawsuits and legislative defenses against anticipated federal challenges. However, experts like UC Berkeley’s Eric Schickler warn that sustaining resistance for four years may be difficult, given Trump’s strengthened political position and a more conservative judiciary.

As a part of the last of the IGS Poll releases prior to the Nov. 5 election, respondents were asked: "Suppose VIce PResident Kamala Harris is not elected President in November, and she decided to run for Governor in 2026. How likely would you be to vote for Harris for Governor of California?" LA Times reports, nearly half of voters would be very or somewhat likely to support her.

With almost a week having past since Election Day, California's top election official, Shirley Weber, defends its slower-than-average, deliberate process of counting mail-in ballots to ensure an accurate election result.

In the aftermath of Former President Donald Trump's decisive reelection to the U.S. presidency, Berkeley News asked prominent UC Berkeley scholars across political science, sociology, international releations, and more to weigh in on the implications for the electorate and the country. Among the scholars quoted, political scientist and IGS Co-Director Eric Schickler shares: 

The 2024 U.S. presidential election has been carried out in an atmosphere of extreme tension, featuring a blitz of disinformation, threats of election interference and the potential for violence. Berkeley scholars say such dynamics could render usually routine election processes unpredictable and vulnerable to disruption, but that the system will almost certainly survive such tests.

This fall, two UC Berkeley centers are gearing up for the election by hosting a variety of events to help others make informed voting decisions. The Institute of Governmental Studies (led by Sociology Professor Cristina Mora and Political Science Professor Eric Schickler) and Social Science Matrix (led by Sociology Professor Marion Fourcade) have partnered in various events and panels spanning over the next two months that will cover the national and state implications of this election year.

On Thursday, September 19, the Latina Futures 2050 Lab hosted an engaging panel discussion featuring prominent scholars, including IGS Co-director Cristina Mora, a leading voice in the study of race, identity, and politics. The event focused on the critical role of women of color in shaping the 2024 general election.

UC Berkeley students Dushant Puri, 19, and Angel Aldaco, 21, attended the September 10th Presidential Debate Watch Party hosted by IGS. The Associate Press captured moments from the event, and quoted both students in their recap  article, "To pumped-up Democrats, Harris was everything Biden was not in confronting Trump in debate".

The lead photo for the Washington Post's recap of the September 10th Presidential Debate features The Institute of Governmental Studies' well attended Presidential Watch Party at UC Berkeley. This event was the first in a semester long series around the 2024 election, and highlights how engaged young people are in the coming election. The article discusses ABC News' decision to provide live fact-checking of the candidates' claims as the debate went on, and differing perceptions on how their interjections affected the debate.

Tomorrow (Tuesday, September 10th) night's Presidential Debate between Former President Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, set for 6 p.m. PST on Tuesday, Sept. 10, broadcast via ABC News, is shaping up to be a well attended and widely watched event, as both candidates are under immense pressure to deliver strong performances. The watch party hosted by the Institute of Governmental Studies and the Robert T.

California has lost one-third of its newspapers and 68% of journalists since 2005, driven by the rise of digital media. Assembly Bill 886 would require platforms like Google to pay news outlets for linking to their content, while Senate Bill 1327 aims to support local journalism through fees on tech companies for user data.

With Biden stepping down, Vice President Kamala Harris and California Governor Gavin Newsom are seen as Democratic frontrunners. UC Berkeley's Co-Director of IGS Eric Schickler believes Harris has the edge, especially with Biden's backing, and her nomination could be historic as the first Black woman president. Republicans may struggle to cast Harris as weak on crime due to her prosecutorial background.

With Biden stepping down, Vice President Kamala Harris and California Governor Gavin Newsom are seen as Democratic frontrunners. UC Berkeley's Eric Schickler believes Harris has the edge, especially with Biden's backing, and her nomination could be historic as the first Black woman president. Republicans may struggle to cast Harris as weak on crime due to her prosecutorial background.

With President Biden’s 2024 bid in question, Kamala Harris is gaining renewed attention. Though her vice presidency has faced criticism, recent IGS poll show growing Democratic support for her as a presidential candidate. Born and raised in California, Harris’ career spans from district attorney to U.S. senator, marked by a pragmatic approach to politics. Known for her focus on criminal justice reform and tackling sex crimes, Harris has been both praised and criticized for her cautious, non-ideological stances.

In a historic moment echoing past political violence, former President Donald Trump was injured in a shooting at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. The attack, which left one attendee dead and two critically injured, recalls assassination attempts on figures like Theodore Roosevelt and Gerald Ford. Trump, though briefly downed, was later reported to be "fine." Eric Schickler, a political science professor at UC Berkeley, noted that many Americans today aren't familiar with the political violence of the 1960s and '70s, making the attack even more shocking.