Widespread claims of voter fraud. Election deniers in positions of power. A Supreme Court hostile to voting rights. And redistricting wars that could shape the balance of Congress. I’ll discuss the most pressing challenges facing America’s democracy in the context of the 2026 midterm elections, including the latest scholarly literature on election administration, the impact of recent Supreme Court decisions, and the likelihood of a peaceful and democratic transfer of power.
Register before 5 p.m. the Sunday before for in-person lunch ($10) or by the next evening for the Zoom link.
Joshua Ferrer is an Assistant Professor of Government in the School of Public Affairs at American University, where his research examines challenges to democratic elections in the United States. His work spans election administration, voter turnout, the racialization of anti-democratic attitudes, primary elections, and electoral reform. Ferrer earned his PhD in Political Science from UCLA. He also holds an MA in Politics from the University of Otago and graduated Summa Cum Laude from Amherst College. His research has been published in top political science journals including the American Political Science Review, the American Journal of Political Science, and the British Journal of Political Science, and has received coverage from outlets such as The Economist, NPR, NBC, PBS, CNN, and The Guardian.
For more information, please email Lunch and Learn.