Articles about events and initiatives at the Center for the Political Future and Unruh Institute, as well as contributions from our team to significant publications in California and beyond.
Statement from the USC Dornsife Center for the Political Future (CPF) regarding Trump supporters storming the United States Capitol.
Read MoreUSC students in CPF Executive Director Kamy Akhavan's course, “Doing Good: How to Start and Run a Successful Nonprofit Organization,” put their classwork into practice by helping the homeless, immigrants, and orphaned children. This course was offered through the Dornsife Toolkit, which provides students with skills that can help them beyond college. USC Dornsife News profiled three amazing students in Akhavan’s course and their efforts to help vulnerable communities.
Read MoreCPF, USC Dornsife, and USC Dornsife Center for Economic and Social Research launched the USC Dornsife Daybreak Poll, a daily nationwide poll to track Americans’ opinions about the presidential candidates. The post-election poll results found Joe Biden had a 15-point lead with Generation Z and millennial voters. On November 19, 2020, Los Angeles Times analyzed the post-election poll results, including comments from CPF Director Bob Shrum.
Read MoreProposition 18, a measure that would have allowed 17-year-olds to vote in certain elections, was voted down in California by a 55% majority, according to the Associated Press. CPF Executive Director Kamy Akhavan commented on the proposition that if passed, would have given 17-year-olds the right to vote in special elections and primaries if they turned 18 by the next general election date.
Read MoreCPF, USC Dornsife, and USC Dornsife Center for Economic and Social Research launched the USC Dornsife Daybreak Poll, a daily nationwide poll to track Americans’ opinions about the presidential candidates. The final poll results show Joe Biden leads President Trump by double digits nationally in the poll’s daily tracking. It also reveals President Trump has lost ground among key groups that powered his drive to the presidency four years ago. On November 2, 2020, Los Angeles Times analyzed the final poll results, including comments from CPF Director Bob Shrum.
Read MoreMore so than arguably any election in American history, the divisive 2020 presidential race has provoked an overwhelming sense of anxiety in many Americans. Nearly 70% of American adults said the 2020 presidential election brought them a significant amount of stress. CPF Executive Director Kamy Akhavan shared his suggestions for reducing election-related stress.
Read MoreFor the 2020 presidential election, the USC Galen Center served as an official voting center for Trojans and community members. This effort was led by USC Athletics and the USC Athletics Black Lives Matter Action Team and in partnership with various partners, such as the USC Center for the Political Future (CPF) and the Los Angeles County Registrar’s Office. CPF Executive Director Kamy Akhavan and Communications and Media Manager Kristy Plaza shared how CPF helped organize the vote center and bolster voter turnout in the community.
Read MoreUSC's Galen Center is now open for early voting! It will remain open from October 30 through Election Day on November 3. It will be open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday through Monday and 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day. Complimentary parking is available for those voting. Find answers to frequently asked questions about the Voting Center.
Read MoreFor months, CPF, VoteSC, USC Athletics’ Black Lives Matter Action Team, and multiple organizations at USC have been encouraging students and community members to register to vote. These voter engagement efforts have resulted in the university turning two buildings into voting centers and encouraging the entire Trojan community to exercise their civic duty. USC News profiled our voter engagement efforts, with CPF Executive Director Kamy Akhavan detailing our civic engagement efforts to make the voting process as easy as possible.
Read MoreCPF, USC Dornsife, and USC Dornsife Center for Economic and Social Research launched the USC Dornsife Daybreak Poll, a daily nationwide poll to track Americans’ opinions about the presidential candidates. The latest poll results show President Trump hasn't recovered from his first debate performance with Joe Biden. On October 14, 2020, Los Angeles Times analyzed the latest results, including comments from CPF Director Bob Shrum.
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