Maxwell School News and Commentary

"One of the main lenses to look at political contributions is as investments. That often leads to big investors hedging their bets, which they often do," says Professor Grant Reeher. He was interviewed for the Modern Healthcare article, about healthcare executives and the political consequences of their campaign donations

Grant Reeher, professor of political science and director of the Campbell Public Affairs Institute, says that Senator Warren and Senator Sanders "are struggling for the same general bloc of Democratic voters, and Biden is offering an alternative to both of them—so it’s not like someone might abandon Sanders because of this conflict and then go to Biden." 

"The most important threat, in my view, of another Trump presidency is the unpredictability and uncertainty," says Áron Tóbiás, assistant professor of economics. "You can never know what happens next: what appears on Twitter, or what kind of trade policy is made."

"It solidifes their majority, and puts in place this idea that New York is just blue, full stop," says Grant Reeher, professor of political science. "And it seems like it's going to be really tough for Republicans to make a real run at the governor's seat, given what we've seen in recent elections." 

"For those who believe in the rule of law and the importance of constitutional norms, his impeachment is nonetheless important because it upholds and reinforces the importance of those norms," says Professor Emeritus William Banks.

"On paper, you would say it has to hurt him [Trump] and there are public opinion data that back that up," says Professor of Political Science Grant Reeher. "But there are different ways this might be spun that we can’t predict right now. It could be that this mobilizes a set of voters in a way that helps Trump." 

Shana Gadarian, associated professor of political science, Joined WAER's Syracuse Speaks show to discuss the importance of local elections and voter engagement, amid historically low turnout rates in local elections. Central New Yorkers face issues that decide key policy like tax rates, education policy, and district lines this year.

“He [incumbent Ryan McMahon] is keen on making his own mark and I think he’s in a very good position to do so,” said Grant Reeher, professor of political science and director of the Campbell Public Affairs Institute. “I don’t think there’s a big reason to send him packing.”

"The authorities made a calculation back in the summer: that it was better to keep the actual opposition candidates — the people associated with Navalny — off the ballot and take the protests over the summer, than it would be to steal the elections in September and face protests over that," says Professor of Political Science Brian Taylor, about the Russian election.

According to William Banks, professor emeritus of public administration and international affairs, information received from a foreign entity could be a little murky under the law, but if someone determined the information was of value, it would be unlawful.