Welcome! I am an Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Oregon. Before arriving to UO, I was a post-doctoral research fellow at the Center for the Study of Democratic Politics at Princeton University and received my Ph.D. in political science from the University of California, Berkeley.
My research focuses on public opinion, political parties, Congress, polarization and representation. I have published on these topics in the American Political Science Review, Journal of Politics, Perspectives on Politics and Public Opinion Quarterly. My work on early abortion opinion among evangelicals has been included in The Washington Post’s Monkey Cage. I have also commented on national and state politics in The Huffington Post, Newsweek, NBC News as well as numerous state and local news outlets.
I am currently working on a book project on the role of the racial realignment for polarization on other culture war issues that define contemporary partisan battles including abortion, gun control, gay rights and immigration. I contend the parties were able to divide as they did on culture war issues like abortion and gun control in the 1980s-1990s, because the parties in the electorate had already divided on civil rights in the 1960s.
I have taught courses on The U.S. Congress, statistics for political science (grad and undergrad) and Introduction to U.S. Politics.
Email: obrian [at] uoregon [dot] edu
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NeilOBrian4
Neil O'Brian 