Mike Franz
@mikefranz.bsky.social
Professor of Government at Bowdoin College
Co-director, Wesleyan Media Project (@wesmediaproject.bsky.social
& mediaproject.wesleyan.edu); policomm, polisci, interest groups, political advertising, campaign finance reform
https://mikemfranz.com/
Co-director, Wesleyan Media Project (@wesmediaproject.bsky.social
& mediaproject.wesleyan.edu); policomm, polisci, interest groups, political advertising, campaign finance reform
https://mikemfranz.com/
Reposted by Mike Franz
The Federal Election Commission, which regulates campaign finance, has lost another member. But the FEC has actually been without a quorum for months, leaving the agency unable to do much of its work.
The Federal Election Commission is down to 2 members. So its work is at a standstill
The Federal Election Commission, which regulates campaign finance, has lost another member. But the FEC has actually been without a quorum for months, leaving the agency unable to do much of its work.
n.pr
October 4, 2025 at 2:32 PM
The Federal Election Commission, which regulates campaign finance, has lost another member. But the FEC has actually been without a quorum for months, leaving the agency unable to do much of its work.
The FEC is currently down to 3 of 6 commissioners. I've collected as many FEC votes as possible + scaled them. The data back up that Lindenbaum is pretty moderate in historical terms. Two others (Trainor, Broussard) are more polarized. Trump (illegally) fired Weintraub, who was left-most Dem.
August 1, 2025 at 3:13 PM
The FEC is currently down to 3 of 6 commissioners. I've collected as many FEC votes as possible + scaled them. The data back up that Lindenbaum is pretty moderate in historical terms. Two others (Trainor, Broussard) are more polarized. Trump (illegally) fired Weintraub, who was left-most Dem.
Maine Senate since 1954. Graph summarizes town-level regressions by cycle, controlling for partisan enrollment, population, and county effects. Not much to see pre-2020, but high Dem towns in 2020 bolted at a larger rate from Collins. Dem voters are ready. Can the pty take adv? Model fit below.
May 29, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Maine Senate since 1954. Graph summarizes town-level regressions by cycle, controlling for partisan enrollment, population, and county effects. Not much to see pre-2020, but high Dem towns in 2020 bolted at a larger rate from Collins. Dem voters are ready. Can the pty take adv? Model fit below.
Reposted by Mike Franz
President Trump Issues Dangerous Executive Order That Would Shift to Presidency More Power Over the Conduct of Federal Elections and Potentially Disenfranchise Millions of Voters electionlawblog.org?p=149153
President Trump Issues Dangerous Executive Order That Would Shift to Presidency More Power Over the Conduct of Federal Elections and Potentially Disenfranchise Millions of Voters #ELB
I am still making my way through this new Trump executive order on election administration (helpfully posted by Chris Geidner). There is a lot in here, but let me make three four initial points as I s...
electionlawblog.org
March 25, 2025 at 9:03 PM
President Trump Issues Dangerous Executive Order That Would Shift to Presidency More Power Over the Conduct of Federal Elections and Potentially Disenfranchise Millions of Voters electionlawblog.org?p=149153
Great news!! In ‘23, I co-taught a course on the Ethics of AI. A central insight from that class: AI developers need students versed in the liberal arts to pressure them to think about the moral, political, ethical, and environmental implications of their models.
www.nytimes.com/2025/03/24/t...
www.nytimes.com/2025/03/24/t...
Netflix’s Reed Hastings Gives $50 Million to Bowdoin for A.I. Program
The Netflix co-founder said he wanted his alma mater to become a leader in studying the consequences, and guiding beneficial uses, of artificial intelligence.
www.nytimes.com
March 24, 2025 at 6:36 PM
Great news!! In ‘23, I co-taught a course on the Ethics of AI. A central insight from that class: AI developers need students versed in the liberal arts to pressure them to think about the moral, political, ethical, and environmental implications of their models.
www.nytimes.com/2025/03/24/t...
www.nytimes.com/2025/03/24/t...
Maine has a close relationship w/Canada, and I'm working on measuring French-Canadian influence in Maine politics. Here are county-level ranks using available Census data back to 1910. Same four counties have historically had the most French ancestry. (Measuring this is not easy!)
March 5, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Maine has a close relationship w/Canada, and I'm working on measuring French-Canadian influence in Maine politics. Here are county-level ranks using available Census data back to 1910. Same four counties have historically had the most French ancestry. (Measuring this is not easy!)
Congrats to Bowdoin Women’s basketball for their NESCAC Championship. Packed gym. Epic comeback! An “instant classic”!
March 2, 2025 at 9:28 PM
Congrats to Bowdoin Women’s basketball for their NESCAC Championship. Packed gym. Epic comeback! An “instant classic”!
Reposted by Mike Franz
“Why don't you wear a suit? You're at the highest level in this country's office & you refuse to wear a suit. A lot of Americans have problems with you not respecting the office.”
February 28, 2025 at 7:04 PM
“Why don't you wear a suit? You're at the highest level in this country's office & you refuse to wear a suit. A lot of Americans have problems with you not respecting the office.”
Reposted by Mike Franz
The DOGE firings have nothing to do with “efficiency” or “cutting waste.” They’re a direct push to weaken federal agencies perceived as liberal. This was evident from the start, and now the data confirms it: targeted agencies overwhelmingly those seen as more left-leaning. 🧵⬇️
February 20, 2025 at 2:18 AM
The DOGE firings have nothing to do with “efficiency” or “cutting waste.” They’re a direct push to weaken federal agencies perceived as liberal. This was evident from the start, and now the data confirms it: targeted agencies overwhelmingly those seen as more left-leaning. 🧵⬇️
Interested in evidence of polarization in Maine? The graph looks at just enrolled Dems and Reps by year and cong dist (using current CD boundaries). Since about 2008, CD1 has become more Dem and CD2 has become more Rep. Not a surprise, perhaps, except that the chg is very recent.
February 7, 2025 at 6:55 PM
Interested in evidence of polarization in Maine? The graph looks at just enrolled Dems and Reps by year and cong dist (using current CD boundaries). Since about 2008, CD1 has become more Dem and CD2 has become more Rep. Not a surprise, perhaps, except that the chg is very recent.
Reposted by Mike Franz
Received a letter from POTUS today purporting to remove me as Commissioner and Chair of the FEC. There's a legal way to replace FEC commissioners-this isn't it. I've been so fortunate to serve the American people and stir up some good trouble along the way. That's not changing anytime soon.
February 6, 2025 at 11:41 PM
Received a letter from POTUS today purporting to remove me as Commissioner and Chair of the FEC. There's a legal way to replace FEC commissioners-this isn't it. I've been so fortunate to serve the American people and stir up some good trouble along the way. That's not changing anytime soon.
Reposted by Mike Franz
🧵My statement in response to Trump illegally attempting to fire Federal Election Commission (FEC) Chair Ellen Weintraub: In claiming to fire a commissioner of the Federal Election Commission, the president violates the law, the separation of powers and generations of Supreme Court precedent. 1/
February 7, 2025 at 1:17 AM
🧵My statement in response to Trump illegally attempting to fire Federal Election Commission (FEC) Chair Ellen Weintraub: In claiming to fire a commissioner of the Federal Election Commission, the president violates the law, the separation of powers and generations of Supreme Court precedent. 1/
Working on a project measuring party registration in Maine towns back to 1954. Here is the statewide % of registered Dems (looking only at Dems and Republicans). Big change from 1954 to late 1970s. (Been fun collaborating w/ Dave Emery and Chris Potholm).
January 22, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Working on a project measuring party registration in Maine towns back to 1954. Here is the statewide % of registered Dems (looking only at Dems and Republicans). Big change from 1954 to late 1970s. (Been fun collaborating w/ Dave Emery and Chris Potholm).
Reposted by Mike Franz
My hottest take for the end of the year is that it is immensely more satisfying to cross things off a to-do list written on paper than any electronic equivalent.
December 31, 2024 at 10:08 PM
My hottest take for the end of the year is that it is immensely more satisfying to cross things off a to-do list written on paper than any electronic equivalent.
Reposted by Mike Franz
Our new analysis shows that total online political advertising on Google and Meta alone topped $1.35 billion this election cycle.
Online Ad Spending in the 2024 Election Topped $1.35 Billion
Online political advertising surged in the weeks before the election, driven by candidates’ appeals to voters and national groups seeking to influence state ballot measure results.
www.brennancenter.org
December 28, 2024 at 3:52 PM
Our new analysis shows that total online political advertising on Google and Meta alone topped $1.35 billion this election cycle.
Reposted by Mike Franz
TV advertising in 2024 presidential race was close to dead even. Our quick take on political advertising in this year's campaign. With @efranklinfowler.bsky.social and @mikefranz.bsky.social
Advertising trends in the 2024 presidential race - Election Analysis - United States
Prof. Travis N. Ridout Professor in the School of Politics, Philosophy and Public Affairs at Washington State University. He does research on political communication, political campaigns and advertisi...
www.electionanalysis.ws
November 15, 2024 at 8:42 PM
TV advertising in 2024 presidential race was close to dead even. Our quick take on political advertising in this year's campaign. With @efranklinfowler.bsky.social and @mikefranz.bsky.social
I love tracking House & Senate forecasts. Thanks to Inside Elections (& @rubashkin.bsky.social) for keeping their regular House & Senate ratings open to see. Here is how Sen election ratings changed over 2024. Lots of stability, though TX moved in Dem direction. Select House races in comments.
November 15, 2024 at 3:53 PM
I love tracking House & Senate forecasts. Thanks to Inside Elections (& @rubashkin.bsky.social) for keeping their regular House & Senate ratings open to see. Here is how Sen election ratings changed over 2024. Lots of stability, though TX moved in Dem direction. Select House races in comments.
Lots of talk abt the election outcome & its alignment w/certain fundamentals...i.e., "Biden is unpopular and so GOP should clearly benefit." Yes, but some of these fundamentals are themselves out of alignment w/known economic & political factors.
mikemfranz.com/2024/11/14/t...
mikemfranz.com/2024/11/14/t...
November 14, 2024 at 7:10 PM
Lots of talk abt the election outcome & its alignment w/certain fundamentals...i.e., "Biden is unpopular and so GOP should clearly benefit." Yes, but some of these fundamentals are themselves out of alignment w/known economic & political factors.
mikemfranz.com/2024/11/14/t...
mikemfranz.com/2024/11/14/t...
Reposted by Mike Franz
💥 NEW report from WMP: Nearly $300 Million in Presidential Ad Spending Across Platforms Over Past Two Weeks.
Read the full report: mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/releases-102...
@efranklinfowler.bsky.social , @tnridout.bsky.social, and @mmfranz.bsky.social.
#2024election #politicalads
Read the full report: mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/releases-102...
@efranklinfowler.bsky.social , @tnridout.bsky.social, and @mmfranz.bsky.social.
#2024election #politicalads
Harris TV Ads Plummet Before Rebounding - Wesleyan Media Project
mediaproject.wesleyan.edu
October 24, 2024 at 6:42 PM
💥 NEW report from WMP: Nearly $300 Million in Presidential Ad Spending Across Platforms Over Past Two Weeks.
Read the full report: mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/releases-102...
@efranklinfowler.bsky.social , @tnridout.bsky.social, and @mmfranz.bsky.social.
#2024election #politicalads
Read the full report: mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/releases-102...
@efranklinfowler.bsky.social , @tnridout.bsky.social, and @mmfranz.bsky.social.
#2024election #politicalads
Reposted by Mike Franz
Today in “campaigning can change vote choice”
October 24, 2024 at 11:22 AM
Today in “campaigning can change vote choice”
Reposted by Mike Franz
💥 New tools for visualizing presidential advertising by geography! One that shows the breakdown of presidential ads by issue mentions on TV & one that shows FB & IG spending over time. ⬇️ mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/issues-oct24/
@mmfranz.bsky.social @tnridout.bsky.social @efranklinfowler.bsky.social
@mmfranz.bsky.social @tnridout.bsky.social @efranklinfowler.bsky.social
Presidential Advertising Issue Spotlight (7/22/24 – 10/15/24) - Wesleyan Media Project
mediaproject.wesleyan.edu
October 17, 2024 at 8:29 PM
💥 New tools for visualizing presidential advertising by geography! One that shows the breakdown of presidential ads by issue mentions on TV & one that shows FB & IG spending over time. ⬇️ mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/issues-oct24/
@mmfranz.bsky.social @tnridout.bsky.social @efranklinfowler.bsky.social
@mmfranz.bsky.social @tnridout.bsky.social @efranklinfowler.bsky.social
Lots of chatter this year (as usual) about the efficacy of election forecasting models. This past summer, Andy Robinson (Bowdoin Class of '27) and I collected pre-election House and Senate ratings and compared them to the outcome. Here are the House results. Humans do a decent job.
October 16, 2024 at 10:13 PM
Lots of chatter this year (as usual) about the efficacy of election forecasting models. This past summer, Andy Robinson (Bowdoin Class of '27) and I collected pre-election House and Senate ratings and compared them to the outcome. Here are the House results. Humans do a decent job.
Reposted by Mike Franz
💥 NEW report from WMP, @opensecretsdc.bsky.social, and @brennancenter.bsky.social sheds light on the scope of online ad spending this election cycle on the two largest online platforms, Google and Meta.
Read more: mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/reports-1016...
#2024election #politicalads
Read more: mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/reports-1016...
#2024election #politicalads
New report details at least $600 million in digital Ad spending this cycle - Wesleyan Media Project
mediaproject.wesleyan.edu
October 16, 2024 at 4:17 PM
💥 NEW report from WMP, @opensecretsdc.bsky.social, and @brennancenter.bsky.social sheds light on the scope of online ad spending this election cycle on the two largest online platforms, Google and Meta.
Read more: mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/reports-1016...
#2024election #politicalads
Read more: mediaproject.wesleyan.edu/reports-1016...
#2024election #politicalads