News

IGS Co-Director Schickler quoted in New York Times article; California's slow ballot counting process becoming "fodder for conspiracy theories" questioning election integrity

November 11, 2024
Soumya Karlamangla, Olando Mayorquín, Coral Murphy Marcos

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. With nine of 16 the remaining Congressional races to determine control of the House of Representatives still uncalled, IGS Co-Director Eric Schickler weighs in, saying, "'Even actions that are actually just good-faith efforts to have a reliable election' can become fodder for conspiracy theories."...

IGS Co-Director Schickler connects Californians' "heightened sense of public disorder" to election of new LA District Attorney Hochman, CNN reports

December 1, 2024
Emma Tucker

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 voters also voted to recall overwhelmingly for Proposition 36, which imposes stricter penalties for some drug and theft crimes, as Oakland voters chose to recall progressive DA Pamela...

IGS Co-Director Cristina Mora highlighted at UCLA panel

September 19, 2024

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.

Mora and fellow panelists examined how the unique experiences and intersectional identities of women of color are reshaping the political landscape. The conversation provided key insights into voter behavior in communities of color and underscored the growing influence...

New Poll Highlights Californians’ Struggles with Basic Needs

May 1, 2024

The Possibility Lab, in collaboration with the UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies, has released findings from a January 2024 survey of 8,199 California voters. The poll assessed access to 12 essential resources, including housing, food, water, and employment. Results reveal that over half of respondents face challenges in accessing basic necessities, with nearly 75% agreeing that affordable housing is difficult to secure in their area. Conducted as part of the Possibility Lab’s Abundance Accelerator initiative, the survey underscores the need for innovative policies to...

IGS Co-Director Eric Schickler quoted in Washington Post Article: California to lead a Trump resistance again

November 18, 2024
Reis Thebault

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. Schickler suggests California could also focus on showcasing effective governance to counter Trump’s agenda....

Implications of Trump's Reelection "hard to overstate", says IGS Co-Director Eric Schickler, UC Berkeley scholars

November 6, 2024
Edward Lempinen, Jason Pohl, Lila Thulin

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:

There are many takeaways from the election results. But the most important implication is that just four years after the Jan. 6 insurrection, former President Trump will be back in the White House — now...

Berkeley IGS Poll in Progress this Week (Oct 22 - Oct 29)

October 22, 2024
Berkeley IGS Poll in Progress This Week

This week the Institute of Governmental Studies will be conducting another of its periodic polls of the California public about major political and public policy issues facing the state. It is a legitimate non-partisan poll sponsored by the University that is carried out by distributing email invitations via Qualtrics to a carefully constructed random sample of the state’s registered voters. Data collection will continue through Tuesday, October 29.

The opinions of all survey participants will remain confidential and not be...

The Matsui Center is expanding; we're hiring a Program Manager!

October 11, 2024
Click here to see the full application link and apply:

https://careerspub.universityofcalifornia.edu/psp/ucb/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/HR...

About Berkeley

At the University of California, Berkeley, we are committed to creating a community that fosters equity of experience and opportunity, and ensures that students, faculty, and staff of all backgrounds feel safe, welcome and included. Our culture of...

Berkeley IGS Poll in Progress this Week (Sept 25 - Oct 1)

September 25, 2024
Berkeley IGS Poll in Progress This Week

This week the Institute of Governmental Studies will be conducting another of its periodic polls of the California public about major political and public policy issues facing the state. It is a legitimate non-partisan poll sponsored by the University that is carried out by distributing email invitations via Qualtrics to a carefully constructed random sample of the state’s registered voters. Data collection will continue through Tuesday, October 1.

The opinions of all survey participants will remain confidential and not be...

LA Times article highlights IGS Poll results that reinforce the decline of the news industry as more voters rely on search engines for election-related news

July 24, 2024
Ashley Ahn

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.

A recent IGS poll found California voters rely on Google and search engines nearly as much as traditional newspapers for election news. Despite growing social media use for news, concerns about misinformation are increasing, and many news outlets face severe...