Faculty bio | Research website | Twitter

Neil O’Brian is an academic expert in U.S. politics with focus on public opinion, political parties and polarization. At the University of Oregon, he is an assistant professor of political science. Neil’s recent work has focused on how people’s perceptions of politics and current events affect their political attitudes. He is also writing a book on the 1960s racial realignment and its effect on party polarization on issues like abortion, gun control and immigration.

Recent Media: 
Biden is barely beating Trump among young voters (Axios, Feb. 26, 2024)
Young people are lukewarm about Biden – and giving them more information doesn’t move the needle much (The Conversation, Feb. 21, 2024)
As Roe anniversary approaches, Republicans debate next moves (Roll Call, Jan. 19, 2023)
GOP Voters Still Loyal to Trump Despite Waning Influence Over Party: Poll (Newsweek, Jan. 9, 2023)
Rural Democrat, suburban Republican duke it out in Oregon’s 5th Congressional District (Oregon Capital Chronicle, Oct. 27, 2022)
Election fraud claims are driving polarization in the midterm elections (Jefferson Public Radio, Sept. 29, 2022)
Nike touts its climate initiatives. So why is Phil Knight bankrolling a logging industry ally? (HuffPost, Sept. 10, 2022)
2 races to represent Oregon in Congress extremely close; Republicans claim they’re ahead in both, despite Democrats’ voter registration edge (The Oregonian, Sept. 10, 2022)
Oregon Rep. Kurt Schrader loses to liberal Democratic primary challenger McLeod-Skinner (Washington Examiner, May 27, 2022)
Evangelicals opposed abortion long before their leaders caught up (The Washington Post, May 18, 2022)
Val Hoyle wins Democratic nod for Oregon House seat long held by Peter DeFazio (Washington Examiner, May 17, 2022)
How redistricting will shape politics in the West for the next decade (Deseret News, Dec. 14, 2021)