Sean McElwee
Co-Founder, Data for Progress
Chapter Member: New York City SSN
Areas of Expertise:
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About Sean
McElwee’s work focuses on the intersection of democracy and inequality. He explores voting inequalities across class, race and age and the effects of these inequalities on policy. He also explores race, class, age and gender disparities in campaign finance and how these biases distort policies. In addition, McElwee explores attitudes about race, particularly among whites.
Contributions
The White Donor Class and City Policy in Chicago
Key Findings Brief,
No Jargon Podcast
In the News
"How "Abolish ICE" Went From A Twitter Slogan To A Litmus Test," Sean McElwee, Interview with Steven Perlberg, Buzzfeed News, July 28, 2018.
Sean McElwee's research on leftist politics discussed by , "Where is the American "Great Middle" That James Comey is Talking About?," Mic, July 23, 2018.
Sean McElwee's research on leftist political movement discussed by , "Leftists Explain Why They Love Cynthia Nixon," VICE, July 18, 2018.
Sean McElwee's research on abolishing ICE discussed by , "How a Left-Wing Rallying Cry Burst into the Mainstream as Trump Implements his Most Extreme Immigration Policy Yet," Business Insider, June 30, 2018.
Sean McElwee's research on abolishing ICE discussed by , "South Florida Democrats lurch left with call to abolish ICE," Miami Herald, June 26, 2018.
Sean McElwee's research on abolishing ICE discussed by , "'Abolish ICE!' is the New Rallying Cry for Progressive Democrats," NBC News, June 22, 2018.
Sean McElwee quoted by A.P. Joyce, "The Movement to Abolish ICE Is Growing as Trump Administration Ramps up Immigration Policies" Mic, June 20, 2018.
"The Future Of The Democratic Party Is Being Decided Right Now," Sean McElwee, Huffington Post, June 6, 2018.
Sean McElwee quoted on progressive politics by Marie Solis, "Who is Kara Eastman? First-Time Female Candidates Stuns Democratic Establishment in Nebraska's Primaries" Newsweek, May 16, 2018.
Sean McElwee's research on voter turnout discussed by , "Sanders Institute Offers a Fix for Our Abysmal Voter Turnouts," Truthdig, May 16, 2018.
Darrick Hamilton quoted on progressive ideas by Benjy Sarlin, "Fringe Liberal Ideas Move to Front-Burner for Democrats" NBC News, May 14, 2018.
Sean McElwee's research on , "Voices on the Left are Rising in the US. Why Aren’t They in Mainstream Media?," Columbia Journalism Review, May 8, 2018.
Sean McElwee quoted on Democratic support for a federal jobs guarantee by Marie Solis, "Can a Federal Jobs Guarantee Help Democrats Defeat Trump in 2020?" Newsweek, April 26, 2018.
Darrick Hamilton quoted on a federal jobs guarantee by Jake Johnson, "Embracing 'the Sort of Bold Thinking We Need,' Sanders to Introduce Plan to Guarantee Every American a Job" Common Dreams, April 23, 2018.
Sean McElwee quoted on creating progressive discourse by Sahil Kapur, "Democrats United against Trump but Torn on Election Agenda" Bloomberg Politics, April 18, 2018.
"How Racism Could Drive Support for War with Iran," Sean McElwee (with ), The Nation, April 6, 2018.
Sean McElwee quoted by Gregory Krieg, "Cuomo Pushes to Reunite Party as Nixon Challenge Grows" CNN, April 4, 2018.
Sean McElwee quoted by David Colon, "Will IDC Challengers Ride Cynthia Nixon's Coattails?" City & State New York, April 2, 2018.
Sean McElwee quoted on "abolish ICE" movement by A.P. Joyce, "This Progressive Millennial Aims to Bring Change to America’s Wealthiest Congressional District" Mic, March 23, 2018.
Sean McElwee quoted by David Weigel, "'Medicare for All' Has Broad Support — but Pollsters Worry That it hasn't Been Tested" Washington Post, March 19, 2018.
Sean McElwee's research on , "Re-energizing Obama Supporters Who were Nonvoters in 2016 Seen as Best Path for Dems in '18," MinnPost, March 12, 2018.
Sean McElwee quoted by Peter Hasson, "Abolishing ICE Looks Likely to Become 2020 Campaign Issue for Democrats" The Daily Caller, March 9, 2018.
Sean McElwee quoted by Gregory Koger, "Polls Show Support for Gun Control is Widespread" Vox, March 5, 2018.
"Labor’s Lost: The Supreme Court’s Latest Union Case is Designed to Kneecap the Democratic Party," Sean McElwee (with ), Slate, February 25, 2018.
"The 2018 Democratic Wave is about More than Congress," Sean McElwee, Huffington Post, January 24, 2018.
"These Democratic Senators Should be Afraid for Their Jobs," Sean McElwee (with ), VICE, January 22, 2018.
"Jeff Sessions is on the Wrong Side of Marijuana Legalization. Can Democrats Take Advantage?," Sean McElwee, NBC News, January 4, 2018.
Sean McElwee quoted by Noah Smith, "Economists Should Care about the Racial Divide" Bloomberg, January 4, 2018.
"Why Did Trump Win? More Whites - and Fewer Blacks - Actually Voted.," Sean McElwee (with ), The Washington Post, May 8, 2017.
"Is America More Divided by Race or Class?," Sean McElwee (with ), The Washington Post, October 12, 2016.
Regular contributions by Sean McElwee to Salon.
Regular contributions by Sean McElwee to Al-Jazeera America.
"White Kids Aren't Buying the Politics of Racial Resentment," Sean McElwee (with ), Gawker, May 11, 2016.
"There’s Powerful Evidence that Racial Attitudes Drive Tea Party Support," Sean McElwee (with ), Vox, February 10, 2016.
"Republican Voters are More Pro-Climate Than You Might Think," Sean McElwee (with ), Mother Jones, December 15, 2015.
Publications
"Why the Voting Gap Matters," Demos, October 23, 2014.
Lays out the case that voters and non-voters have distinct preferences and that these differences have important implications for public policy. Makes the case for policies to increase turnout.
"How Chicago’s White Donor Class Distorts City Policy," Demos, April 28, 2016.
Uses a pioneering new method to explore the race, gender and income demographics of political donors. Shows that donors to Chicago elections are whiter and richer than the general population. Argues that donors in the mid-range are more diverse than the largest donors, while using survey data to show that donors from Chicago are more supportive of austerity.
"Why Voting Matters: Large Disparities in Turnout Benefit the Donor Class," Demos, September 16, 2015.
Examines American National Election Studies data to show that voters are more conservative on many core issues related to inequality and redistribution than non-voters. Analyzes Census Bureau data to show the deep class and race disparities in turnout. Includes a new review of the literature showing that turnout affects policy.