UC political scientist David Niven cited by multiple media on 2022 elections
David Niven is the go-to media source for political commentary
As the mid-terms approach, David Niven’s media requests are coming in fast and furiously from local, regional and national outlets. Niven is, after all, a leading expert on not only Ohio politics but how elections across the country are won and lost based on messaging, district mapping, candidate qualifications and party issues.
David Niven, assistant professor of public and international affairs. Photo/UC Marketing + Brand
In a recent article by The Columbus Dispatch, which was syndicated to msn.com, Niven spoke to the potential for public apathy surrounding the upcoming Ohio State Treasurer’s race, where Republican Robert Sprague is asking voters for another four years while Democratic Marion Mayor Scott Schertzer is campaigning to unseat him.
"There's no glory in it," Niven, an assistant professor in UC’s School of Public and International Affairs, remarked about the treasurer’s position, adding that most Ohioans don't know who the state treasurer is let alone what the job does.
In an interview with WOSU, Niven spoke to the current conversation around a recurring theme of each party’s politics causing a “threat to democracy.”
“To Democrats it means we aren’t going to have elections anymore. To an awful lot of Trump followers, it’s a worry that we are going to have free and fair elections,” Niven said.
In an article in NewsExplorer, Niven weighed in on senate campaigns in Ohio, Georgia and Pennsylvania and the Trump endorsements that may or may not push the Republican candidates over the finish line.
“J.D. Vance represents a potential Trump win,” Niven said, adding that the ugly and inept races run by Dr. Oz and Hershel Walker are not as solid.
Accusations of Jim Jordan’s failing to report athlete’s sexual abuse claims against an Ohio State University wrestling coach, Richard Strauss, is the topic of an article in Political Flare and Columbuscitynewsstation.com. Jordan was an assistant coach there from 1987-1995 and denies being part of what the athletes called a “cover up” when the sexual abuse accusations came to light in 2018.
However, the reemergence of the scandal won’t likely hurt Jordan’s chances of being re-elected, says Niven, explaining that the district’s new shape has been largely gerrymandered to favor Jordan and it’s expected this could give him a margin of victory of 35 percent or more in November.
“The bottom line … Jim Jordan gets the benefit of Ohio geography, which is there’s an awful lot of Republicans in the rural, western half of Ohio,” Niven said. “And he gets the benefit of that come Election Day.”
More commentary by Niven appears in the articles below:
Ohio primary election recap: Trump-endorsed Vance wins GOP Senate race; Ryan tops Democrats
Who is running for Ohio Secretary of State?
Featured image at top courtesy of Unsplash.
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