Jen Heerwig
@drjenh.bsky.social
Professor / political sociologist studying money in American politics.
“We tend to imagine corruption as a transaction: money buying votes, quid pro quos in backrooms. But money’s real power is quieter and deeper. It decides which candidates get to run, which policies are thinkable, and whose voices get amplified or ignored.“ Worth reading the full piece!
Money Doesn't Buy Elections. It Does Something Worse.
Campaign ads barely move the needle. The real influence is hiding in plain sight.
data4democracy.substack.com
🚨 We’re HIRING! 🚨 The Department of Sociology at Stony Brook University (SUNY) is seeking two tenure-track Assistant Professors in Global Inequality & Justice (start Fall 2026). Come join a vibrant, growing department at New York’s top public university! 📍 Apply here: apply.interfolio.com/172669
Seattle voters just approved a renewal of the city's pioneering Democracy Voucher program, with 56% in favor. A new book from @drjenh.bsky.social found that the program, created to counter Big Money in elections, has increased local donor participation and diversified Seattle's candidate pool.
New Book Examines Seattle Democracy Voucher Program’s Success
An interview with Dr. Jen Heerwig, co-author of a book researching how Seattle's pioneering program has helped boost voter participation and local representation
readsludge.com
YES!! Seattle voters appear poised to renew Democracy Voucher Program - www.cascadepbs.org/election-202...
Seattle voters appear poised to renew Democracy Voucher program
Proposition 1, funded through a property tax, gives Seattle residents four $25 vouchers to distribute to local candidates each election cycle.
cascadepbs.org
Seattle's Democracy Vouchers are on the August ballot! Proposition 1 would renew funding for the 1st system in the U.S. that gives residents public money to support local candidates of their choice. An advocate and professor who has studied the program help us understand what's at stake. #SEAelex
Seattle's Democracy Voucher Program Faces Critical Renewal Vote in August Primary
Proposition 1 would continue nation's only public campaign financing system using vouchers
officialhacksandwonks.com
Seattle's successful Democracy Voucher program has led to the number of registered voters contributing to campaigns DOUBLING in just the first 4 years. Professors @drjenh.bsky.social and Brian J. McCabe lay out the facts for why voters should vote @yesonprop1seattle.bsky.social on Aug 5!
Seattle’s democracy vouchers are working. Here’s the proof • Washington State Standard
COMMENTARY | The publicly funded campaign finance program has brought tens of thousands more people into the city's political process.
washingtonstatestandard.com
Happy to share this op-ed on Seattle’s Democracy Voucher program as voters consider renewing the program’s tax levy (I would vote YES!)
Sightline Institute@sightline.org · last yr.@drjenh.bsky.social and Brian McCabe in @washingtonstatestandard.com: "As Seattle heads into its fifth election cycle with democracy vouchers, and voters consider renewing the program’s tax levy, the evidence is clear. The program has moved Seattle toward a fairer, more inclusive democracy."
Great interview with @sludge.bsky.social about my book on Seattle’s Democracy Voucher program and upcoming renewal! Watch for the information. Stay for my hilarious facial expressions!
Sludge@sludge.bsky.social · last yr.NEW: Seattle's pioneering "democracy voucher" program has boosted small-donor participation and increased diversity among small donors, according to a new book. Video interview with Dr. Jen Heerwig on her research into the local program since it began: readsludge.com/2025/05/13/n...
New: Cuomo's real estate industry donors, who dodged a major corruption investigation that he shut down in 2014, are now funding the super PAC backing him.
Real Estate Industry Bankrolls Cuomo Super PAC
Several donors benefited when former Gov. Cuomo killed the Moreland Commission, a state anti-corruption panel that was investigating them.
readsludge.com
🎉🎉🎉Democracy Vouchers and the Promise of Fairer Elections in Seattle event hosted by @brennancenter.bsky.social @scholars.org with thanks to @ianvan.bsky.social @kevintmorris.bsky.social @heathbrown.bsky.social
Heath Brown@heathbrown.bsky.social · last yr.Getting started on Seattle’s election voucher event @brennancenter.bsky.social with NYC chapter of @scholars.org
Four Dems voted for the GOP's SAVE Act, described by voting rights advocates as "the worst voting law passed by Congress." - Ed Case (#HI01) - Henry Cuellar (#TX28) - Jared Golden (#ME02) - Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (#WA03) Three are currently in the Blue Dog Coalition; Case is a former co-chair.
A key step in fighting the Trump admin's attacks on higher education specifically and democracy more broadly is to say as clearly as we can that we share values that are meaningful and that we will not stand by while our institutions are destroyed. You can do that here: bit.ly/DemocracyAndHigherEd
Having seen the power of Democracy Vouchers firsthand, I was thrilled to be invited to testify in front of the Minnesota Senate today. We need to expand this model to create a more representative, fair, and equitable democracy. #democracyvouchers
Jen Heerwig@drjenh.bsky.social · 2y agoA few weeks ago, I had the privilege and pleasure of discussing my new book on #DemocracyVouchers with Paris Jackson on @crosscut.com.web.brid.gy Cascade PBS! Luckily you can’t quite tell how nervous I was
👇👇👇 see you in Boston #ESS
Wendy Y. Li@wendyyli.bsky.social · last yr.Will you be at #ESS next week in Boston? Looking for a brilliant group of people to think about US politics with? If so, please join us for the People-ing Politics Mini-conference! @daniellaurison.bsky.social @blackcapitol.bsky.social @kadiaz428.bsky.social
New podcast from me and @thomaszimmer.bsky.social
Is This Democracy@isthisdemocracypod.bsky.social · last yr.📢 PODCAST The Path to Authoritarianism One month into the Trumpist regime, we reflect on what has happened since Trump returned to the presidency, what might be coming next, and what we have learned about America along the way. New episode of Is This Democracy:
It’s out!! Free downloads for the next few weeks! Get it while you can—it’s a BFD! @rivb.bsky.social @mirya.bsky.social @dzobrien.bsky.social @rblaifeder.bsky.social
Tiffany Barnes@tiffanydbarnes.bsky.social · last yr.In just a few short days Gendered Jobs and Local Leaders will be available for free download. I’ve been waiting for this one! 🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗 @rivb.bsky.social @mirya.bsky.social @dzobrien.bsky.social www.cambridge.org/core/element...
Excellent piece. Modern autocrats arrive at power via elections, and then gradually erode democracy until only a facade remains. Coups provoke mass opposition and mobilization: salami tactics don’t.
Jennifer N. Victor@jenvictor.bsky.social · 2y agoExcellent short piece by @ryanenos.bsky.social that explains why Americans are not more alarmed by the authoritarian actions of its government. open.substack.com/pub/ryandeno...
This Hannah Arendt quote feels appropriate right now "Totalitarianism in power invariably replaces all first-rate talents, regardless of their sympathies, with those crackpots and fools whose lack of intelligence and creativity is still the best guarantee of their loyalty."
"Musk quietly back-channeled a message to Senators, according to two sources familiar with the matter: anyone who votes against Trump’s Cabinet secretaries will face a multi-million dollar Musk-funded Super PAC to oust them from office in their next primary." time.com/7208202/trum...
'He's at the Apex of Power Now': Trump's Second Term Begins
'He wants people that can disrupt alongside him'
time.com
Some popular policies that Harris didn't champion include ending the Electoral College and campaign finance reform www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
A few weeks ago, I had the privilege and pleasure of discussing my new book on #DemocracyVouchers with Paris Jackson on @crosscut.com.web.brid.gy Cascade PBS! Luckily you can’t quite tell how nervous I was
The Newsfeed: How Democracy Vouchers can empower Seattle voters
Dr. Jennifer Heerwig researches all of the city’s election cycles, and says the program has diversified donor and candidate pools.
cascadepbs.org
Hello sociology & political science and not-academic friends: I'm co-organizing a series of discussions on issues relating to this year's election. They're free and open to anyone interested. First one is March 6th - Register at tinyurl.com/election-series.
Excited to share the ASA Political Sociology Section 2024 Election Series! Our first talk on Mar 6 will be a dynamic and timely panel featuring Victoria Asbury, Luisa Godinez-Puig and Samuel Perry. RSVP here: tinyurl.com/election-ser...
