Danielle Thomsen
@daniellethomsen.bsky.social
Political scientist at UC, Irvine. Congress, elections, and gender. New book on fundraising in U.S. House elections from 1980 to 2022.
Pinned
The Money Signal
A data-rich, eye-opening look at how, when, and why political fundraising is consequential. Over the last two decades, the number of competitive congressional races has declined precipitously. Yet ca...
press.uchicago.edu
As fundraising heats up this cycle, it's a good time to announce the publication of my new book, The Money Signal! The main argument is that money matters because it is a widely used indicator of viability and strength in American politics.
press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/bo...
press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/bo...
Reposted by Danielle Thomsen
Reposted by Danielle Thomsen
OPINION TODAY featured podcast —
The money chase: In congressional primaries and general elections, the top fundraiser wins 92% of the time. @daniellethomsen.bsky.social finds that candidates are raising money earlier and in larger amounts than ever.
opiniontoday.substack.com/i/177548584/...
The money chase: In congressional primaries and general elections, the top fundraiser wins 92% of the time. @daniellethomsen.bsky.social finds that candidates are raising money earlier and in larger amounts than ever.
opiniontoday.substack.com/i/177548584/...
October 31, 2025 at 3:42 AM
OPINION TODAY featured podcast —
The money chase: In congressional primaries and general elections, the top fundraiser wins 92% of the time. @daniellethomsen.bsky.social finds that candidates are raising money earlier and in larger amounts than ever.
opiniontoday.substack.com/i/177548584/...
The money chase: In congressional primaries and general elections, the top fundraiser wins 92% of the time. @daniellethomsen.bsky.social finds that candidates are raising money earlier and in larger amounts than ever.
opiniontoday.substack.com/i/177548584/...
Big thanks to @mattgrossmann.bsky.social for the invitation to discuss my new book!
How the Money Chase Governs our Elections
Early $ still governs who runs, who lasts, & who rises in Congress, even though it's often spent just to raise more
@daniellethomsen.bsky.social on The Money Signal on the #ScienceOfPolitics podcast/transcript:
www.niskanencenter.org/how-the-mone...
Early $ still governs who runs, who lasts, & who rises in Congress, even though it's often spent just to raise more
@daniellethomsen.bsky.social on The Money Signal on the #ScienceOfPolitics podcast/transcript:
www.niskanencenter.org/how-the-mone...
How the money chase governs our elections - Niskanen Center
Danielle Thomsen finds that candidates are raising money earlier and in larger amounts than ever.
www.niskanencenter.org
October 30, 2025 at 12:29 AM
Big thanks to @mattgrossmann.bsky.social for the invitation to discuss my new book!
Reposted by Danielle Thomsen
New editorial from me and @keithschnak.bsky.social.
“Why Washington University must not sign Trump's 'compact'”
“Why Washington University must not sign Trump's 'compact'”
Opinion: Why Washington University must not sign Trump's 'compact'
Washington University in St. Louis has built its reputation on a simple ideal: excellence wins. For decades, our researchers have competed for and won federal grants based on the quality
www.stltoday.com
October 21, 2025 at 6:52 PM
New editorial from me and @keithschnak.bsky.social.
“Why Washington University must not sign Trump's 'compact'”
“Why Washington University must not sign Trump's 'compact'”
Great turnout on pacific coast highway. Deeply moved by support for democracy, science, and the values that set America apart.
So bad even political science (and philosophy) professors are showing up. With @daniellethomsen.bsky.social 🇺🇸
Here for democracy, science and #noKings #philsky #philsci #STS #sciencesky #HPBio
Here for democracy, science and #noKings #philsky #philsci #STS #sciencesky #HPBio
October 20, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Great turnout on pacific coast highway. Deeply moved by support for democracy, science, and the values that set America apart.
Reposted by Danielle Thomsen
I just finished reading this book. It is terrific.
As fundraising heats up this cycle, it's a good time to announce the publication of my new book, The Money Signal! The main argument is that money matters because it is a widely used indicator of viability and strength in American politics.
press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/bo...
press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/bo...
The Money Signal
A data-rich, eye-opening look at how, when, and why political fundraising is consequential. Over the last two decades, the number of competitive congressional races has declined precipitously. Yet ca...
press.uchicago.edu
October 17, 2025 at 5:11 PM
I just finished reading this book. It is terrific.
Reposted by Danielle Thomsen
As fundraising heats up this cycle, it's a good time to announce the publication of my new book, The Money Signal! The main argument is that money matters because it is a widely used indicator of viability and strength in American politics.
press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/bo...
press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/bo...
The Money Signal
A data-rich, eye-opening look at how, when, and why political fundraising is consequential. Over the last two decades, the number of competitive congressional races has declined precipitously. Yet ca...
press.uchicago.edu
October 16, 2025 at 3:19 PM
As fundraising heats up this cycle, it's a good time to announce the publication of my new book, The Money Signal! The main argument is that money matters because it is a widely used indicator of viability and strength in American politics.
press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/bo...
press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/bo...
Reposted by Danielle Thomsen
#OpenAccess from Augusts 2025 -
Early Money and Strategic Candidate Exit - cup.org/3HnnDBk
"exit of experienced candidates has important implications for the choices that voters have"
- @daniellethomsen.bsky.social
Early Money and Strategic Candidate Exit - cup.org/3HnnDBk
"exit of experienced candidates has important implications for the choices that voters have"
- @daniellethomsen.bsky.social
October 13, 2025 at 12:30 PM
#OpenAccess from Augusts 2025 -
Early Money and Strategic Candidate Exit - cup.org/3HnnDBk
"exit of experienced candidates has important implications for the choices that voters have"
- @daniellethomsen.bsky.social
Early Money and Strategic Candidate Exit - cup.org/3HnnDBk
"exit of experienced candidates has important implications for the choices that voters have"
- @daniellethomsen.bsky.social
As fundraising heats up this cycle, it's a good time to announce the publication of my new book, The Money Signal! The main argument is that money matters because it is a widely used indicator of viability and strength in American politics.
press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/bo...
press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/bo...
The Money Signal
A data-rich, eye-opening look at how, when, and why political fundraising is consequential. Over the last two decades, the number of competitive congressional races has declined precipitously. Yet ca...
press.uchicago.edu
October 16, 2025 at 3:19 PM
As fundraising heats up this cycle, it's a good time to announce the publication of my new book, The Money Signal! The main argument is that money matters because it is a widely used indicator of viability and strength in American politics.
press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/bo...
press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/bo...
Reposted by Danielle Thomsen
CHICAGO — Outside an elementary school during dismissal… horrifying. What have we become?
October 9, 2025 at 2:34 PM
CHICAGO — Outside an elementary school during dismissal… horrifying. What have we become?
Reposted by Danielle Thomsen
Today my @nytimes.com colleagues and I are launching a new series called Lost Science. We interview US scientists who can no longer discover something new about our world, thanks to this year‘s cuts. Here is my first interview with a scientist who studied bees and fires. Gift link: nyti.ms/3IWXbiE
nyti.ms
October 8, 2025 at 11:29 PM
Today my @nytimes.com colleagues and I are launching a new series called Lost Science. We interview US scientists who can no longer discover something new about our world, thanks to this year‘s cuts. Here is my first interview with a scientist who studied bees and fires. Gift link: nyti.ms/3IWXbiE
Reposted by Danielle Thomsen
New article: "Fundamentals of Solidarity: Race-Based Caucus Organizing in Houston" is live at Urban Affairs Review. I'm grateful to the organizers who let me into their world and work so we could produce this piece. Check it out 👇
Fundamentals of Solidarity: Race-Based Caucus Organizing in Houston - Elizabeth Jordie Davies, 2025
Grassroots organizations often espouse multiracial solidarity as a value but struggle with putting this value into practice. How can organizations, especially t...
doi.org
October 7, 2025 at 12:17 AM
New article: "Fundamentals of Solidarity: Race-Based Caucus Organizing in Houston" is live at Urban Affairs Review. I'm grateful to the organizers who let me into their world and work so we could produce this piece. Check it out 👇
Reposted by Danielle Thomsen
What do you have to do to a person to make them behave like this? What brings a person to a point in their life where they’re gleefully inflicting lawless, unjust violence like this?
ICE officers stopped a family at gunpoint and smashed the car window on top of the newborn baby. “I was screaming that there was a baby,” cried the mother. “But they didn’t care,” and covered the baby with their bodies, fearing that the glass would hurt him.
October 4, 2025 at 4:41 PM
What do you have to do to a person to make them behave like this? What brings a person to a point in their life where they’re gleefully inflicting lawless, unjust violence like this?
Reposted by Danielle Thomsen
In @nytopinion.nytimes.com
“By many measures, it’s been the most successful season in league history” for the WNBA, David Berri, a sports economist, writes. “But the players aren’t fully sharing in that success.”
“By many measures, it’s been the most successful season in league history” for the WNBA, David Berri, a sports economist, writes. “But the players aren’t fully sharing in that success.”
Opinion | The W.N.B.A. Is Making More Money Than Ever. Why Aren’t the Players?
Other professional sports leagues give their players roughly 50 percent of the revenue, but the W.N.B.A. players get less than 10 percent.
nyti.ms
October 3, 2025 at 4:35 PM
In @nytopinion.nytimes.com
“By many measures, it’s been the most successful season in league history” for the WNBA, David Berri, a sports economist, writes. “But the players aren’t fully sharing in that success.”
“By many measures, it’s been the most successful season in league history” for the WNBA, David Berri, a sports economist, writes. “But the players aren’t fully sharing in that success.”
Excellent overview
There's been a lot of confusion about which states could redraw their House maps before the midterms, so we've put together a definitive guide to every state that could actually do so—16 in all.
We explain the likelihood of new maps, probable targeted districts, and any obstacles to passage.
We explain the likelihood of new maps, probable targeted districts, and any obstacles to passage.
Here's every state that could draw a new congressional map by 2026
Most states can't pass new maps quickly—but those that can favor Republicans
www.the-downballot.com
October 3, 2025 at 4:08 PM
Excellent overview
Reposted by Danielle Thomsen
Political campaigns now burn 30¢ of every dollar raised just fundraising for more dollars (up from 9¢ in 2004).
In 2024, $3 Billion was spent on fundraising.
In 2026, fundraising costs are on track to exceed advertising spending for the first time.
In 2024, $3 Billion was spent on fundraising.
In 2026, fundraising costs are on track to exceed advertising spending for the first time.
The Fundraising-Industrial Complex Is Eating American Politics
New data reveals campaigns burn about a third of donations raised just asking for more donations
open.substack.com
September 23, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Political campaigns now burn 30¢ of every dollar raised just fundraising for more dollars (up from 9¢ in 2004).
In 2024, $3 Billion was spent on fundraising.
In 2026, fundraising costs are on track to exceed advertising spending for the first time.
In 2024, $3 Billion was spent on fundraising.
In 2026, fundraising costs are on track to exceed advertising spending for the first time.
Reposted by Danielle Thomsen
"When nearly one-third of all political contributions get recycled back into asking for more contributions, we've created a system that exists primarily to perpetuate itself while enriching fundraising consultants." data4democracy.substack.com/p/the-fundra...
The Fundraising-Industrial Complex Is Eating American Politics
New data reveals campaigns burn about a third of donations raised just asking for more donations
data4democracy.substack.com
September 23, 2025 at 7:38 PM
"When nearly one-third of all political contributions get recycled back into asking for more contributions, we've created a system that exists primarily to perpetuate itself while enriching fundraising consultants." data4democracy.substack.com/p/the-fundra...
Reposted by Danielle Thomsen
“It will take decades to recover from this, if we ever do.” America’s cancer research system, which has helped save millions of lives and is in one of its most productive moments, is under threat by the Trump administration.
Trump Is Shutting Down the War On Cancer
America’s cancer research system, which has helped save millions of lives, is under threat in one of its most productive moments.
nyti.ms
September 14, 2025 at 4:15 PM
“It will take decades to recover from this, if we ever do.” America’s cancer research system, which has helped save millions of lives and is in one of its most productive moments, is under threat by the Trump administration.
Reposted by Danielle Thomsen
Danielle Thomsen's (@daniellethomsen.bsky.social) The Money Signal will change how you think about the function of money in US elections. A must-read! press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/bo...
The Money Signal
A data-rich, eye-opening look at how, when, and why political fundraising is consequential. Over the last two decades, the number of competitive congressional races has declined precipitously. Yet ca...
press.uchicago.edu
August 22, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Danielle Thomsen's (@daniellethomsen.bsky.social) The Money Signal will change how you think about the function of money in US elections. A must-read! press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/bo...
APSA folks: Free on Saturday, 9/13 at 10 am? Come to an Author Meets Critics panel for my new book, The Money Signal! Thanks to an amazing group of scholars: Larry Bartels, Brandice Canes-Wrone, @carnes.bsky.social, @jakemgrumbach.bsky.social, and Frances Lee. @uchicagopress.bsky.social
September 12, 2025 at 2:38 PM
APSA folks: Free on Saturday, 9/13 at 10 am? Come to an Author Meets Critics panel for my new book, The Money Signal! Thanks to an amazing group of scholars: Larry Bartels, Brandice Canes-Wrone, @carnes.bsky.social, @jakemgrumbach.bsky.social, and Frances Lee. @uchicagopress.bsky.social
Reposted by Danielle Thomsen
Have you ever wanted to hear the stories of pathbreaking LADIES of political science? these new podcasts tell their stories. #GenderSky #Polisky #Behaviorsky #EGEN @egenpolisci.bsky.social
Check out this new podcast "Pathbreaking Women in Comparative Politics" by the Governance and Local Development Institute! 🎧
The first episode interviews Margaret Levi of Stanford University.
Listen and learn more ⬇️
gld.gu.se/en/governanc...
@gldinstitute.bsky.social #comparativesky #gendersky
The first episode interviews Margaret Levi of Stanford University.
Listen and learn more ⬇️
gld.gu.se/en/governanc...
@gldinstitute.bsky.social #comparativesky #gendersky
Governance Uncovered - A Podcast by GLD
In the podcast Governance Uncovered, we discuss the intricacies of governance, state and non-state actors, and local development dynamics. Whether you're a student, professional, or simply curious abo...
gld.gu.se
August 28, 2025 at 6:51 PM
Have you ever wanted to hear the stories of pathbreaking LADIES of political science? these new podcasts tell their stories. #GenderSky #Polisky #Behaviorsky #EGEN @egenpolisci.bsky.social
Exactly right. And no incentives for strong GOP challengers to run. Problematic in era of uncompetitive general elections.
We needed to expel every GOP Representative who voted against certifying the 2020 election results. We didn’t. So here we are. As with everything else in 🇺🇸 history from 1/6/21 to Iran-Contra to Watergate all the way back to 1865. People respond to incentives, especially lawless authoritarians.
August 17, 2025 at 7:34 PM
Exactly right. And no incentives for strong GOP challengers to run. Problematic in era of uncompetitive general elections.
Reposted by Danielle Thomsen
If pundits would like to talk about violence, a terrorist recently shot up the CDC and another assassinated Democratic officials in Minnesota but they sort of let both stories disappear
Not as threatening as motorbikes in DC I know but maybe we could circle back?
Not as threatening as motorbikes in DC I know but maybe we could circle back?
August 17, 2025 at 1:04 PM
If pundits would like to talk about violence, a terrorist recently shot up the CDC and another assassinated Democratic officials in Minnesota but they sort of let both stories disappear
Not as threatening as motorbikes in DC I know but maybe we could circle back?
Not as threatening as motorbikes in DC I know but maybe we could circle back?
Reposted by Danielle Thomsen
Very bad sign when masked, unidentified agents of the security state are not just grabbing people off the street but openly identifying with the regime's politics
August 16, 2025 at 6:31 PM
Very bad sign when masked, unidentified agents of the security state are not just grabbing people off the street but openly identifying with the regime's politics
Reposted by Danielle Thomsen
Enjoyed giving a keynote at CogSci 2025! 🧠 🖥️ 🌉@cogscisociety.bsky.social #CogSci2025 #philsci #philsky #HPS
August 16, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Enjoyed giving a keynote at CogSci 2025! 🧠 🖥️ 🌉@cogscisociety.bsky.social #CogSci2025 #philsci #philsky #HPS