Charles Hunt, PhD

Biography
Professor Charles R. Hunt’s research focuses primarily on the U.S. Congress, congressional elections, partisanship, and representation. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Brown University, and a Ph.D in Government and Politics from the University of Maryland. Prior to graduate school, he worked as a political consultant and communications professional in Providence, Rhode Island, where he grew up.

Research
American Politics Research, Congress and the Presidency, and Electoral Studies. He and his work have appeared in numerous local media outlets like Boise State Public Radio and The Idaho Press, as well as national outlets like USA Today, The Washington Post, and the Brookings Institution.

He is the author of a book forthcoming in 2022 from University of Michigan Press entitled Home Field Advantage: Roots, Reelection, and Representation in the Modern Congress. The book pertains to the local roots and personal backgrounds members of Congress have in their particular districts. He is also the author of a forthcoming textbook from Sage/CQ Press entitled Congress Explained: Representation and Lawmaking. Dr. Hunt’s other research focuses on campaign finance, partisan trends, and redistricting. Dr. Hunt was the 2019 recipient of the Conley H. Dillon Award from the University of Maryland’s College of Behavioral and Social Sciences for authoring the best dissertation in American Politics in that year.