2018 Midterm Elections
From campaign finance to policy issues to voting trends in Texas and at the national level, faculty experts at UT Austin are poised to provide insight for coverage of the 2018.
If you are seeking expertise on other subjects, please call University Media Relations at 512-471-3151 or consult our general Media Experts Guide.
Midterm Elections

Richard P Bixler
Assistant Professor
, Lyndon B Johnson School of Public Affairs
+1 512 471 3988, rpbixler@utexas.edu
Bixler can discuss:
- Local and national turnout rates
- Civic engagement
- Demographic political participation
*Available more or less until Nov. 7
Media Contact: Tori Yu, victoriajyu@austin.utexas.edu, 512-232-4054
Joshua M Blank
Director of Research for the Texas Politics Project
, College of Liberal Arts
+1 512 471 0371, joshmblank@austin.utexas.edu
Blank can discuss:
- Texas politics
- Texas public opinion
- Polling
- UT/Texas Tribune Poll
Media Contact: Daniel Oppenheimer, oppenheimer@utexas.edu, 512-475-9712

Victoria M Defrancesco
Senior Lecturer
, Lyndon B Johnson School of Public Affairs
, vmdsoto@austin.utexas.edu
DeFrancesco Soto can discuss:
- Latinx voter turnout
- Women and politics
- Campaigns and elections
Media Contact: Tori Yu, victoriajyu@austin.utexas.edu, 512-232-4054

Sherri R Greenberg
Assistant Dean
, Lyndon B Johnson School of Public Affairs
+1 512 471 8324, +1 512 656 6592, srgreenberg@austin.utexas.edu
Greenberg can discuss:
- Voting turnout and civic engagement
- Polls
- Certain issues affecting elections such as: housing, health & transportation
- Texas campaigns and elections
*Available on Wednesdays from 9 a.m. - noon and Thursdays from 9 a.m. - noon
Media Contact: Tori Yu, victoriajyu@austin.utexas.edu, 512-232-4054

James R Henson
Executive Director of Texas Politics Project
, Texas Politics Project
+1 512 471 0090, j.henson@austin.utexas.edu
Henson can discuss:
- Texas politics
- Internet and politics
- Texas campaigns and elections
- presidential elections and political campaigns
- UT/Texas Tribune poll

Susan T Nold
Senior Lecturer
, Department of Communication Studies
, Moody College of Communication
, susan.nold@austin.utexas.edu
Nold can discuss:
- Voting trends
- Civic engagement and education
- Young and first-time voter turnout
Media Contact: Mary Huber, mary.huber@austin.utexas.edu, 409-790-6902

Brian E Roberts
Professor
, Department of Government
, College of Liberal Arts
+1 512 232 6582, +1 512 232 7243, roberts@utexas.edu
Roberts can discuss:
- Campaign finance
Media Contact: Daniel Oppenheimer, oppenheimer@utexas.edu, 512-475-9712

Daron R Shaw
Professor
, Department of Government
, College of Liberal Arts
+1 512 232 7275, dshaw@austin.utexas.edu
Shaw can discuss:
- Public opinion and voter behavior
- Campaigns and elections
- Polls and surveys research
- American politics
- UT/Texas Tribune Poll
Media Contact: Daniel Oppenheimer, oppenheimer@utexas.edu, 512-475-9712

Paul J Stekler
Professor Emeritus
, Department of Radio-Television-Film
, Moody College of Communication
, paul.stekler@austin.utexas.edu
Stekler can discuss:
- Will the explosion of social media-based campaigning overwhelm traditional TV and drive turnout?
- What will the election results do the parties afterwards, shifting them right, left?
- What’s the importance of Cruz v. O’Rourke for the future of Texas politics – and for the down ballot races?
*More or less available.
Media Contact: Mary Huber, mary.huber@austin.utexas.edu, 409-790-6902

Jeremi Suri
Professor
, Lyndon B Johnson School of Public Affairs
+1 512 475 7242, suri@austin.utexas.edu
Suri can discuss:
- How this election is a historical turning point for the future of our democracy
- Why the millennial generation vote will matter more than ever
- Why the Democratic party will have more power after this election
*Available on cell at most times.
Media Contact: Tori Yu, victoriajyu@austin.utexas.edu, 512-232-4054

Sean M Theriault
University Distinguished Teaching Professor
, Department of Government
, College of Liberal Arts
+1 512 232 7279, seant@mail.utexas.edu
Theriault can discuss:
- Congress
- Polarization
- Youth participation
Media Contact: Daniel Oppenheimer, oppenheimer@utexas.edu, 512-475-9712

Christopher Wlezien
Professor
, Department of Government
, College of Liberal Arts
+1 512 232 7236, wlezien@austin.utexas.edu
Wlezien can discuss:
- Public opinion
- Public policy
- Political institutions
Media Contact: Daniel Oppenheimer, oppenheimer@utexas.edu, 512-475-9712
For more information, contact: University Communications, Office of the President, 512-471-3151.