Professor of Political Science Tatishe Nteta says, “The state’s Republican Party has experienced a massive shift in the past year,” with Trump-backed Geoff Diehl leading in polls over Chris Doughty. Professor of Political Science Jesse Rhodes adds, “Diehl’s popularity with Republican primary voters shows that the Trumpification of the GOP is happening even in an arch-liberal state like Massachusetts.” (Courthouse News, 8/20/22)

Marissa Carrere has been named one of the 44 Advance Faculty Fellows for the coming academic year. As an Advance Fellow, she will partner with UMass ADVANCE to promote gender and racial equity for faculty at UMass. Faculty Fellows provide recommendations and feedback to the team about ADVANCE programming and liaise with their departments to promote the ADVANCE program. They also inform ADVANCE about successful equity and inclusion initiatives in their units. Each year ADVANCE announces a theme related to our focus on Collaboration and Equity. UMass ADVANCE’s theme for the upcoming program year is “Recognizing Research and Crediting Collaboration Equitably.” (UMass ADVANCE, 9/7/22)

A June poll by UMass Amherst showing Tanisha Sullivan trailing incumbent Secretary of State William Galvin 21% to 35% among likely voters is quoted in a story about U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley backing Sullivan in the race. (Baystate Banner, 8/3/22; News Office release)

There is additional coverage of a July article in The Conversation co-written by Professor of Legal Studies and Political Science Paul Collins. Collins and a colleague at Northern Illinois University write that nearly two-thirds of Americans want fundamental court reform, specifically term limits for Supreme Court justices. They write, “Our extensive research on the Supreme Court shows life tenure, while well intended, has had unforeseen consequences. It skews how the confirmation process and judicial decision-marking work and causes justices who want to retire to behave like political operatives.” (UPI, 7/29/22; Michigan Advance, 8/1/22)