--- title: Expert Sources for the 2026 Midterms date: 2026-10-07T09:22:00-04:00 author: Jordan Dunklee canonical_url: "https://umdrightnow.umd.edu/news-releases/expert-sources-for-the-2026-midterms" section: News Releases --- News Releases # Expert Sources for the 2026 Midterms Connect with University of Maryland faculty on the topics shaping this election ![The Maryland flag waves against a blue sky on November 1, 2025. Photo by Stephanie S. Cordle/University of Maryland.](https://omc-system.transforms.svdcdn.com/production/images/umdrn/Homecoming_11012025_SC_2130-1.jpg?w=1187&h=667&auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=crop&dm=1791313513&s=9ed942f2bfd1691112543f640aeb581e) October 07, 2026 ## Contacts Media Relations: Are you a journalist looking for fresh insights on the 2026 midterm elections? University of Maryland faculty experts are digging into what's shaping this election cycle, including affordability, tech regulation, campaign rhetoric, misinformation and more. *For more information or to set up an interview, please contact mediainfo@umd.edu.* Affordable Housing, Urban Planning & Gentrification [Ariel Bierbaum](https://arch.umd.edu/people/ariel-bierbaum): Urban planning, school-centered community development, school travel, metropolitan inequality, public education [Kathryn Howell](https://arch.umd.edu/people/kathryn-howell): Affordable housing, urban planning [Clara Irazàbal-Zurita](https://umdrightnow.umd.edu/experts/clara-iraz%C3%A1bal-zurita): Urban planning and design, immigration, minority communities, development, Latin America [Willow Lung-Amam](https://arch.umd.edu/people/willow-lung-amam): Gentrification, urban politics, suburbanization, immigration, racial segregation [Jesse Saginor](https://arch.umd.edu/about/people/jesse-saginor): Housing crisis, housing economics and economic development AI, Technology & Cybersecurity [Cody Buntain](https://ischool.umd.edu/directory/cody-buntain/): Social media and political mis/disinformation, AI impact on elections and election administration [Charles Harry](https://spp.umd.edu/our-community/faculty-staff/charles-harry): Election cybersecurity/AI impact on voting [Jennifer Golbeck](https://ischool.umd.edu/directory/jennifer-golbeck/#:~:text=Prof.,about%20current%20issues%20in%20tech.): AI impact on the election and voting [Alysoun McLaughlin](https://cdce.umd.edu/facultyprofile/mclaughlin/alysoun-0): Election management and mechanics (ballots, polling places, logistics, equipment, workforce planning) [Eric Pacuit](https://pacuit.org/): AI and ethics, logic Campaigns & Rhetoric [Sarah Croco](https://gvpt.umd.edu/facultyprofile/croco/sarah): Foreign policy, public opinion, flip-flopping, rhetoric [David Karol](https://gvpt.umd.edu/facultyprofile/karol/david): Campaign rules and strategies, party/candidate behavior [Shawn J. Parry-Giles](https://communication.umd.edu/directory/shawn-parry-giles): Presidential and campaign rhetoric [Trevor Parry-Giles](https://arhu.umd.edu/directory/trevor-parry-giles): Politics and pop culture, political communication [Candace Turitto](https://gvpt.umd.edu/facultyprofile/turitto/candace): Political advertising, campaigns, public opinion, voter psychology Civic Engagement & Democracy Education [Michael Hanmer](https://gvpt.umd.edu/facultyprofile/hanmer/michael): Voter registration and turnout, election reforms, early voting, vote-by-mail, provisional ballots, youth voting, trust in elections, the intersection of sports and politics [Ethan Kaplan](https://econ.umd.edu/facultyprofile/kaplan/ethan): Political economics, gerrymandering, civic engagement [Alysoun McLaughlin](https://cdce.umd.edu/facultyprofile/mclaughlin/alysoun-0): Election management and mechanics (ballots, polling places, logistics, equipment, workforce planning) [Lena Morreale Scott](https://education.umd.edu/directory/lena-morreale-scott): Civic and democracy education [Sam Novey](https://cdce.umd.edu/about-us/supporting-staff): Voter apathy, youth voters [Janelle Wong](https://www.aast.umd.edu/bio-janelle-wong): Minority voter turnout Climate, Sustainability & Food Security [Nima Farshchi](https://www.rhsmith.umd.edu/directory/nima-farshchi): Environmental, social and governance metrics, corporate social responsibility, sustainable development [Stephanie Lansing](https://agnr.umd.edu/about/directory/stephanie-lansing/): Clean energy, food security [Yueming ‘Lucy’ Qiu](https://spp.umd.edu/our-community/faculty-staff/yueming-lucy-qiu): Climate change [Ross Salawitch](https://umdrightnow.umd.edu/experts/ross-salwitch): Climate change [Amy Sapkota](https://sph.umd.edu/people/amy-r-sapkota): Climate change (water-focused) [Jeff Semler](https://agnr.umd.edu/about/directory/jeff-semler/): Agriculture commodities, pricing, farmer resilience [Hee-Jung Song](https://agnr.umd.edu/about/directory/hee-jung-song/): Nutrition, food security [Sacoby Wilson](https://sph.umd.edu/people/sacoby-wilson): Climate change, environmental justice Crime, Public Safety & Gun Violence [Thomas Abt](https://ccjs.umd.edu/facultyprofile/abt/thomas): Violence reduction [Rabiatu Barrie](https://sph.umd.edu/people/rabiatu-barrie): Childhood trauma, violence exposure, mental health [Bianca Bersani](https://ccjs.umd.edu/facultyprofile/bersani/bianca): Immigration and crime, criminal justice [Woodie Kessel](https://www.google.com/search?q=woodie+kessel&rlz=1C5GCCM_en___US1113&oq=woodie+kes&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqBwgAEAAYgAQyBwgAEAAYgAQyBggBEEUYOTIICAIQABgWGB4yCggDEAAYgAQYogQyCggEEAAYogQYiQUyCggFEAAYgAQYogQyCggGEAAYgAQYogSoAgCwAgA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8): Gun violence [Joseph Richardson](https://aasd.umd.edu/facultyprofile/richardson-jr./joseph): Gun violence, trauma, mental health and community violence interventions Economics & Business [Hank Boyd](https://www.rhsmith.umd.edu/directory/henry-c-boyd-iii): Translating corporate marketing principles into political campaign strategy (including managing negative messaging), leveraging social media platforms, brand identity [Thomas Drechsel](https://econ.umd.edu/facultyprofile/drechsel/thomas): Monetary policy, central banks, the Federal Reserve [Nima Farshchi](https://www.rhsmith.umd.edu/directory/nima-farshchi): Environmental, social and governance metrics, corporate social responsibility, sustainable development [Michael Faulkender](https://www.rhsmith.umd.edu/directory/michael-faulkender): Economic policy and implications of legislative shifts post-election; voter priorities on inflation, taxes and economic growth; fiscal stability during election transitions [Reuben Hurst](https://www.rhsmith.umd.edu/directory/reuben-hurst): Workplace political segregation, voter participation and coworker influence, employers' efforts to mobilize workers to vote, data-driven analysis of voter partisanship and workplace political composition (VRscores), corporate strategy during election cycles [Ethan Kaplan](https://econ.umd.edu/facultyprofile/kaplan/ethan): Political economics, gerrymandering, civic engagement [David Kass](https://www.rhsmith.umd.edu/directory/david-kass): Prediction markets as polling indicators, market reaction to election outcomes, legislative implications in the economy [Albert "Pete" Kyle](https://www.rhsmith.umd.edu/directory/albert-pete-kyle): Stock‑market crashes and their economic implications during election cycles; the impact of the election on inflation, recession, investment and interest rates [Joshua Linn](https://agnr.umd.edu/about/directory/joshua-linn/): Fuel price, fuel economy policy [Jeff Semler](https://agnr.umd.edu/about/directory/jeff-semler/): Agriculture commodities, pricing, farmer resilience [Daniel Reck](https://www.econ.umd.edu/facultyprofile/reck/daniel): Tax and public pension policies Election Journalism [Deborah Barfield Berry](https://merrill.umd.edu/directory/deborah-barfield-berry): News coverage of Congress and national politics [Tom Bettag](https://merrill.umd.edu/directory/tom-bettag): Debate ratings/broadcasts [Mark Feldstein](https://merrill.umd.edu/directory/mark-feldstein): Debate ratings/broadcasts [Rafael Lorente](https://merrill.umd.edu/directory/rafael-lorente): News coverage of elections [Shuning Lu](https://merrill.umd.edu/directory/shuning-lu): Journalism and social media [Sean Mussenden](https://merrill.umd.edu/directory/sean-mussenden): Election and related data [Christi Parsons](https://merrill.umd.edu/directory/christi-parsons): Debate coverage, news coverage of elections [Derek Willis](https://merrill.umd.edu/directory/derek-willis): Election and related data [Jerry Zremski](https://merrill.umd.edu/directory/jerry-zremski): News coverage of elections Foreign Policy [Sarah Croco](https://gvpt.umd.edu/facultyprofile/croco/sarah): Foreign policy, public opinion, flip-flopping, rhetoric [Josh Shifrinson](https://cissm.umd.edu/our-community/faculty-staff/joshua-shifrinson): Impact of Russian-Ukrainian war on election [Shibley Telhami](https://gvpt.umd.edu/facultyprofile/telhami/shibley): Public opinion, role of foreign policy including Iran and Israel, race politics [Alec Worsnop](https://spp.umd.edu/our-community/faculty-staff/alec-worsnop): Impact of Russian-Ukrainian war on election Government Operations [Breanna Gray](https://gvpt.umd.edu/facultyprofile/gray/breanna-c): U.S. Congress, congressional rules and procedures, legislative process [Philip Joyce](https://spp.umd.edu/our-community/faculty-staff/philip-joyce): Public, federal and congressional budgeting [Alysoun McLaughlin](https://cdce.umd.edu/facultyprofile/mclaughlin/alysoun-0): Election management and mechanics (ballots, polling places, logistics, equipment, workforce planning) [Kris Miler](https://gvpt.umd.edu/facultyprofile/miler/kris): Congress, political representation, interest groups [John Ronquillo](https://spp.umd.edu/our-community/faculty-staff/john-ronquillo): Leadership and ethics, public/nonprofit management, social equity, indigenous governance Health [Kristen Coleman](https://sph.umd.edu/people/kristen-k-coleman): Airborne infectious disease including avian flu and influenza [Don Milton](https://sph.umd.edu/people/donald-milton): Airborne infectious disease including COVID and influenza [Amir Sapkota](https://sph.umd.edu/people/amir-sapkota): Climate change and the health effects of extreme heat [Julia Steinberg](https://sph.umd.edu/people/julia-r-steinberg): Women’s reproductive health [Sacoby Wilson](https://sph.umd.edu/people/sacoby-wilson): Climate change, environmental justice Immigration [Bianca Bersani](https://ccjs.umd.edu/facultyprofile/bersani/bianca): Immigration and crime, criminal justice [Niambi Carter](https://spp.umd.edu/our-community/faculty-staff/niambi-carter): Race and ethnic politics, immigration policy, age/ageism impact on presidential election [Willow Lung-Amam](https://arch.umd.edu/people/willow-lung-amam): Gentrification, urban politics, suburbanization, immigration, racial segregation Mental Health [Rabiatu Barrie](https://sph.umd.edu/people/rabiatu-barrie): Childhood trauma, violence exposure, mental health [Colleen Byrne](https://psyc.umd.edu/facultyprofile/byrne/colleen): Mental health, coping with election-related distress [Tiara Fennell](https://sph.umd.edu/people/tiara-fennell): Mental health, navigating difficult political conversations Mis/disinformation [Dina Borzekowski](https://sph.umd.edu/people/dina-borzekowski): Social media and misinformation [Cody Buntain](https://ischool.umd.edu/directory/cody-buntain/): Social media and political mis/disinformation [Doug Lombardi](https://education.umd.edu/news/05-22-23-doug-lombardi-named-associate-dean-faculty-affairs): Combatting election mis/disinformation in schools [Sarah McGrew](https://education.umd.edu/directory/sarah-mcgrew): Combatting election mis/disinformation in schools, social media/online evaluation skills, elections/democracy [Susan Moeller](https://merrill.umd.edu/directory/susan-moeller): Election mis/disinformation [Sarah Oates](https://merrill.umd.edu/directory/sarah-oates): Election mis/disinformation [Tom Rosenstiel](https://merrill.umd.edu/directory/tom-rosenstiel): Election mis/disinformation [Daniel Trielli](https://merrill.umd.edu/directory/daniel-trielli): Search engines and mis/disinformation Race & Ethnicity [Niambi Carter](https://spp.umd.edu/our-community/faculty-staff/niambi-carter): Race and ethnic politics, immigration policy, age/ageism impact on presidential election [Willow Lung-Amam](https://arch.umd.edu/people/willow-lung-amam): Gentrification, urban politics, suburbanization, immigration, racial segregation [Stephen Thomas](https://sph.umd.edu/people/stephen-b-thomas): Health disparities [Sacoby Wilson](https://sph.umd.edu/people/sacoby-wilson): Climate change, environmental justice [Janelle Wong](https://www.aast.umd.edu/bio-janelle-wong): Minority voter turnout Social Media [Dina Borzekowski](https://sph.umd.edu/people/dina-borzekowski): Social media and misinformation [Cody Buntain](https://ischool.umd.edu/directory/cody-buntain/): Social media and political mis/disinformation, AI impact on elections and election administration [Stacey Decker](https://merrill.umd.edu/directory/stacey-decker): Social media influence on election/democracy [Shuning Lu](https://merrill.umd.edu/directory/shuning-lu): Journalism and social media [Sarah McGrew](https://education.umd.edu/directory/sarah-mcgrew): Combatting election mis/disinformation in schools, social media/online evaluation skills, elections/democracy [Alexander Pyles](https://merrill.umd.edu/directory/alexander-pyles): Social media influence on election/democracy ## About the University of Maryland The University of Maryland (UMD) is the state's flagship university driven by a community of more than 50,000 fearless Terrapins. As a leading research university and top 20 public institution, UMD is proud to be part of the Association of American Universities. Dedicated to excellence and impact for the public good, the university is propelled by a $1.4 billion joint research enterprise. UMD is the nation’s first Do Good campus, and is consistently ranked for its innovation, research and top-tier academic programs. Located in the National Capital Region, the university offers an unparalleled student experience with federal internship opportunities, hundreds of academic programs and study abroad options, and top-ranked living-learning programs. Spurred by a culture of innovation and creativity, UMD’s faculty are global leaders in their fields and include Nobel laureates, Pulitzer Prize winners and members of the national academies. For more information about the University of Maryland, College Park, visit [umd.edu](http://umd.edu/) Topics [ Election ](/news-releases?topic[]=election)