Kevin Morris
@kevintmorris.bsky.social
Political scientist studying American democracy and voting rights. Prisons are bad, democracy is good. Usually on a bike, beach, or backpacking trip.
An American Problem (Princeton UP) coming 2026
kevintmorris.com
An American Problem (Princeton UP) coming 2026
kevintmorris.com
Pinned
New from Michael Miller and me at @thejop.bsky.social: Evidence that, in most areas that were affected by the decision, the Supreme Court decision gutting the Voting Rights Act in 2013 (Shelby County v Holder) increased the racial turnout gap. A thread...
www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/...
www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/...
My most cherished undergrad prof just shared this poem with me this evening. A really lovely sentiment to carry into this year
(And yes, if you went to Boston College during a certain era, you'll recognize the Mark O'Connor-ness of this)
(And yes, if you went to Boston College during a certain era, you'll recognize the Mark O'Connor-ness of this)
January 6, 2026 at 2:57 AM
My most cherished undergrad prof just shared this poem with me this evening. A really lovely sentiment to carry into this year
(And yes, if you went to Boston College during a certain era, you'll recognize the Mark O'Connor-ness of this)
(And yes, if you went to Boston College during a certain era, you'll recognize the Mark O'Connor-ness of this)
Man. Trump v USA. What a bad decision
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January 6, 2026 at 1:34 AM
Man. Trump v USA. What a bad decision
🌲🌲🌲
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Reposted by Kevin Morris
Everyone wish congestion pricing a happy birthday!
January 5, 2026 at 1:29 PM
Everyone wish congestion pricing a happy birthday!
You do have to wonder whether younger R members of Congress get spooked at some point and there's suddenly a stampede to impeach
January 4, 2026 at 7:28 PM
You do have to wonder whether younger R members of Congress get spooked at some point and there's suddenly a stampede to impeach
Reposted by Kevin Morris
#OTD in 1965 MLK and SCLC exposed discriminatory voting practices — literacy tests and poll taxes, etc. — at a voter registration drive laying the groundwork for the Selma-to-Montgomery marches and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
January 2, 2026 at 10:06 PM
#OTD in 1965 MLK and SCLC exposed discriminatory voting practices — literacy tests and poll taxes, etc. — at a voter registration drive laying the groundwork for the Selma-to-Montgomery marches and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
This is extremely exciting. Time to build political efficacy from the ground up
www.nyc.gov/mayors-offic...
www.nyc.gov/mayors-offic...
Mayor Mamdani Establishes Office of Mass Engagement to Transform How New Yorkers Participate in City Government
www.nyc.gov
January 2, 2026 at 9:23 PM
This is extremely exciting. Time to build political efficacy from the ground up
www.nyc.gov/mayors-offic...
www.nyc.gov/mayors-offic...
Reposted by Kevin Morris
“Election Denial, Voter Confidence, and Political Behavior in the 2021 Georgia Senate Runoff Elections” electionlawblog.org?p=153688
"Election Denial, Voter Confidence, and Political Behavior in the 2021 Georgia Senate Runoff Elections" #ELB
Seth McKee, Trey Hood, and Bailey Pittman in APR. Abstract: We analyze AP VoteCast survey data to determine if opinions toward the 2020 presidential election shaped participation and vote choice in th...
electionlawblog.org
January 2, 2026 at 8:53 PM
“Election Denial, Voter Confidence, and Political Behavior in the 2021 Georgia Senate Runoff Elections” electionlawblog.org?p=153688
Great cover. Can't wait to read this.
Cover reveal. It's about how & why colonies/states controlled international & domestic migration until 1888, why in the late 19th c the feds took over, & what it was like for politically disfavored groups to live under that arrangement of power. You can't understand voluntary migration history 1/
January 2, 2026 at 6:08 PM
Great cover. Can't wait to read this.
Reposted by Kevin Morris
Fascinating paper by Hood, McKee & Pittman demonstrating that election deniers were less likely to vote in the 2021 Georgia Senate runoff election.
If fewer GA Republicans believed the big lie, both GA Senate seats might still be in Republican control.
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
If fewer GA Republicans believed the big lie, both GA Senate seats might still be in Republican control.
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
January 2, 2026 at 5:11 PM
Fascinating paper by Hood, McKee & Pittman demonstrating that election deniers were less likely to vote in the 2021 Georgia Senate runoff election.
If fewer GA Republicans believed the big lie, both GA Senate seats might still be in Republican control.
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
If fewer GA Republicans believed the big lie, both GA Senate seats might still be in Republican control.
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Reposted by Kevin Morris
So many people in politics - in the US and the UK - have been in politics or adjacent their whole lives, and are not like most people. Not just the politicians, but also (even more so!) their staff and advisors.
(I know this more about the US than the UK - daniellaurison.com/research/pol...)
(I know this more about the US than the UK - daniellaurison.com/research/pol...)
January 2, 2026 at 4:41 PM
So many people in politics - in the US and the UK - have been in politics or adjacent their whole lives, and are not like most people. Not just the politicians, but also (even more so!) their staff and advisors.
(I know this more about the US than the UK - daniellaurison.com/research/pol...)
(I know this more about the US than the UK - daniellaurison.com/research/pol...)
Reposted by Kevin Morris
Cover reveal. It's about how & why colonies/states controlled international & domestic migration until 1888, why in the late 19th c the feds took over, & what it was like for politically disfavored groups to live under that arrangement of power. You can't understand voluntary migration history 1/
January 2, 2026 at 1:01 PM
Cover reveal. It's about how & why colonies/states controlled international & domestic migration until 1888, why in the late 19th c the feds took over, & what it was like for politically disfavored groups to live under that arrangement of power. You can't understand voluntary migration history 1/
Reposted by Kevin Morris
Not as many national elections in 2026 as in 2024, but a few of the big ones coming up:
*Bangladesh: 2/12
*Colombia: 5/31
*Sweden: 9/13
*Brazil: 10/4
*Israel: by 10/27
*New Zealand: by 12/19
*Bangladesh: 2/12
*Colombia: 5/31
*Sweden: 9/13
*Brazil: 10/4
*Israel: by 10/27
*New Zealand: by 12/19
January 2, 2026 at 4:27 PM
Not as many national elections in 2026 as in 2024, but a few of the big ones coming up:
*Bangladesh: 2/12
*Colombia: 5/31
*Sweden: 9/13
*Brazil: 10/4
*Israel: by 10/27
*New Zealand: by 12/19
*Bangladesh: 2/12
*Colombia: 5/31
*Sweden: 9/13
*Brazil: 10/4
*Israel: by 10/27
*New Zealand: by 12/19
In his speech, Mamdani named NYC neighborhoods I've never heard of after >10 years here, and also noted that the rest of the country is watching to see "whether the left can govern." I think Asawin is right here. The speech did a good job of putting forward a strong vision and naming the stakes
I think people are underestimating how much Mamdani, even more so than your average elected leftist, see it as his top priority to not be seen as a failed mayor. He is not going to be another Brandon Johnson, I’d wager
January 1, 2026 at 8:37 PM
In his speech, Mamdani named NYC neighborhoods I've never heard of after >10 years here, and also noted that the rest of the country is watching to see "whether the left can govern." I think Asawin is right here. The speech did a good job of putting forward a strong vision and naming the stakes
My point is not that Mamdani has accomplished any policy goals yet. It's that, in an era when people think that elections can't deliver new voices into power, he showed otherwise
Grateful to Mamdani's campaign and transition for a lot of things. But one of the most important gifts he gave the nation is a renewed sense of political efficacy. Entrenched powers can be beat. People power can elect new leaders. Vision matters.
January 1, 2026 at 8:09 PM
My point is not that Mamdani has accomplished any policy goals yet. It's that, in an era when people think that elections can't deliver new voices into power, he showed otherwise
Grateful to Mamdani's campaign and transition for a lot of things. But one of the most important gifts he gave the nation is a renewed sense of political efficacy. Entrenched powers can be beat. People power can elect new leaders. Vision matters.
January 1, 2026 at 7:33 PM
Grateful to Mamdani's campaign and transition for a lot of things. But one of the most important gifts he gave the nation is a renewed sense of political efficacy. Entrenched powers can be beat. People power can elect new leaders. Vision matters.
Jumaane Williams. What a guy.
January 1, 2026 at 7:25 PM
Jumaane Williams. What a guy.
Reposted by Kevin Morris
day one in mamdani’s new york
January 1, 2026 at 5:10 PM
day one in mamdani’s new york
Good piece I hadn't seen over the holidays from Levistky, Way, and Ziblatt
www.foreignaffairs.com/united-state...
www.foreignaffairs.com/united-state...
January 1, 2026 at 6:29 PM
Good piece I hadn't seen over the holidays from Levistky, Way, and Ziblatt
www.foreignaffairs.com/united-state...
www.foreignaffairs.com/united-state...
Love the imagery of the oath of office being taken in the old City Hall subway station
Zohran Mamdani was officially sworn in as mayor of New York City early on Thursday, just after the New Year’s Eve ball dropped in Times Square. www.nytimes.com/2025/12/31/n...
January 1, 2026 at 5:48 PM
Love the imagery of the oath of office being taken in the old City Hall subway station
Do love Portland
December 30, 2025 at 11:47 PM
Do love Portland
Reposted by Kevin Morris
There was a liberal court for a few years in the mid 20th century and the right wing response was to delegitimize for DECADES right up to the point they had a supermajority, at which point it became Wrong to do so. These people think you are stupid bsky.app/profile/chri...
NEW: Jan Crawford's attack on SCOTUS "corruption" narrative was its own substance-free narrative.
On Face the Nation, CBS News's chief legal correspondent went after Supreme Court critics as "dangerous." And yet, her court defense was completely lacking in specifics.
Tonight, at Law Dork:
On Face the Nation, CBS News's chief legal correspondent went after Supreme Court critics as "dangerous." And yet, her court defense was completely lacking in specifics.
Tonight, at Law Dork:
Jan Crawford's attack on SCOTUS "corruption" narrative was its own substance-free narrative
On Face the Nation, CBS News's chief legal correspondent went after Supreme Court critics as "dangerous." And yet, her court defense was completely lacking in specifics.
www.lawdork.com
December 30, 2025 at 1:00 PM
There was a liberal court for a few years in the mid 20th century and the right wing response was to delegitimize for DECADES right up to the point they had a supermajority, at which point it became Wrong to do so. These people think you are stupid bsky.app/profile/chri...
"It was a mistake to trick New Yorkers into believing the G train exists—it does not."
MTA Admits To Fabricating Large Parts Of Subway Map https://theonion.com/mta-admits-to-fabricating-large-parts-of-subway-map/
December 30, 2025 at 12:44 AM
"It was a mistake to trick New Yorkers into believing the G train exists—it does not."
Worth pointing out:
A. In many states, ballots must be received by election day (in all others, they must be postmarked by election day)
B. SCOTUS will hear arguments this winter in a case that could require that mail ballots are RECEIVED (not postmarked) by election day in all states
A. In many states, ballots must be received by election day (in all others, they must be postmarked by election day)
B. SCOTUS will hear arguments this winter in a case that could require that mail ballots are RECEIVED (not postmarked) by election day in all states
this seems specifically designed to break mail-in voting (where deadlines are defined by postmark)
As of 12/24/25, USPS changed policy on when they postmark mail. Mail dropped off is no longer guaranteed a same-day postmark. Tax returns & other time-sensitive items are now stamped when they reach a regional processing center, which may be days later. Plan deadlines accordingly to avoid penalties.
December 30, 2025 at 12:40 AM
Worth pointing out:
A. In many states, ballots must be received by election day (in all others, they must be postmarked by election day)
B. SCOTUS will hear arguments this winter in a case that could require that mail ballots are RECEIVED (not postmarked) by election day in all states
A. In many states, ballots must be received by election day (in all others, they must be postmarked by election day)
B. SCOTUS will hear arguments this winter in a case that could require that mail ballots are RECEIVED (not postmarked) by election day in all states
Reposted by Kevin Morris
The only reference to Jan 6 riots in the Capitol visitor center (that I could find): “On January 6, 2021, Congress was engaged in certifying the Electoral College results when proceedings were interrupted.”
December 29, 2025 at 10:07 PM
The only reference to Jan 6 riots in the Capitol visitor center (that I could find): “On January 6, 2021, Congress was engaged in certifying the Electoral College results when proceedings were interrupted.”
I'm thinking a lot right now about John Prine / Jason Isbell / Joe Pug / etc. These are artists who sing about specific places and specific communities — they are small-c conservative in the best way, and allies for civil rights (of course this has long been true of folk singers) 1/n
December 28, 2025 at 4:52 AM
I'm thinking a lot right now about John Prine / Jason Isbell / Joe Pug / etc. These are artists who sing about specific places and specific communities — they are small-c conservative in the best way, and allies for civil rights (of course this has long been true of folk singers) 1/n