Skovron

Christopher Skovron

Postdoctoral Scholar at the Institute for Policy Research and the Institute on Complex Systems, Data Science Initiative, Northwestern University
Chapter Member: Chicagoland SSN
Areas of Expertise:

Connect with Christopher

(734) 237-7202
Website

About Christopher

Skovron studies American politics with a focus on representation. His research considers how politicians perceive public opinion in their constituencies and how they connect with their constituents. He investigates the roles of elite perceptions in candidate recruitment and the decisions political parties make. 


Skovron also studies how the public’s perceptions of their fellow citizens’ opinions influence political behavior and policy outcomes. He has methodological interests in the use of surveys and voter files to understand public opinion and political behavior. As a graduate student at Michigan, he served in a number of leadership roles with the American Federation of Teachers. 

Contributions | No Jargon Podcast | In the News | Publications

Contributions

Politicians Think American Voters are More Conservative than They Really Are

    David Broockman
Key Findings Brief,

In the News

Christopher Skovron quoted by Sean McElwee, "Democrats Should Run on Gun Control All over the Country" Vice, February 16, 2018.
Christopher Skovron's research on American politicians’ perceptions of their constituents’ opinions discussed by Dana Nuccitelli, "On Climate Change and Elsewhere, Politicians More Conservative than Citizens," Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, July 24, 2017.
Christopher Skovron's research on trends in politicians' understandings of their constituents (with David Broockman) discussed by Oliver Burkeman, "America: A Land of Liberals Governed by Conservatives?," The Guardian, October 2, 2013.
Christopher Skovron's research on politicians' skewed views of voter preferences (with David Broockman) discussed by Michael Tomasky, "How Legislators View Their Constituents," Daily Beast, September 24, 2013.
Christopher Skovron's research on politicians’ conservative bias discussed by Jeffrey Riley, "The Jefferson Exchange," Jefferson Public Radio, June 12, 2013.
Guest to discuss disconnects between politicians and their constituents (Part 2) on WDFN-AM’s Night Shift with Tony Trupiano, Christopher Skovron, May 6, 2013.
"Research: Politicians Have Little Idea What Voters are Thinking," Christopher Skovron, Interview with Zach Gorchow, Bridge Michigan, May 2, 2013.
Christopher Skovron's research on politicians’ perceptions of their constituents discussed by Sal Gentile, "Study: Politicians Think Voters are Way More Conservative than They Actually Are," MSNBC’s UP with Chris Hayes, March 9, 2013.
Guest to discuss disconnects between politicians and their constituents (Part 1) on WDFN-AM’s Night Shift with Tony Trupiano, Christopher Skovron, March 6, 2013.

Publications

"What Politicians Believe about Their Constituents: Asymmetric Misperceptions and Prospects for Constituency Control," (with David Broockman), University of Michigan, February 28, 2013.

Shows that politicians are typically ignorant of constituency opinion and salient issues in their districts and, moreover, typically overestimate the conservatism of their constituents. Conservative politicians’ errors are particularly egregious, overestimating their constituents’ conservatism by around 20 percentage points on average.