Join us for a discussion with Barry C. Burden, Professor of Political Science, Director of the Elections Research Center, and the Lyons Family Chair in Electoral Politics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Professor Burden will offer an analysis of the upcoming midterm election from the perspective of a political scientist. The presentation will illuminate the ways that the current campaign reflects and deviates from previous election cycles and what factors are likely to drive the results in Wisconsin and across the country.
Burden's research and teaching focus on U.S. elections, political parties, public opinion, representation, and the U.S. Congress. His recent research examines aspects of election administration and voter participation.
He is the co-author with Marjorie Randon Hershey of Party Politics in America (19th edition), author of Personal Roots of Representation, co-editor with Charles Stewart of The Measure of American Elections, co-author with David Kimball of Why Americans Split Their Tickets, and editor of Uncertainty in American Politics. Burden has published articles in journals such as the American Political Science Review, American Journal of Political Science, British Journal of Political Science, Public Opinion Quarterly, Legislative Studies Quarterly, and Election Law Journal.
Burden earned his Ph.D. at The Ohio State University and was a faculty member at Harvard University before joining UW-Madison in 2006. He is affiliated with the La Follette School of Public Affairs, the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, and the Center for Demography of Health and Aging. At UW-Madison he is involved with First-Generation Badgers and BadgersVote. He has been an expert witness in multiple court cases and legislative hearings concerning changes to election laws and practices.
If you have preliminary questions for the speaker, please send to Program Coordinators Laurie Mayberry at laurie.mayberry@wisc.edu, Michael Bernard-Donals at michael.bernarddonals@wisc.edu, and Scott Hildebrand at scott.h.hildebrand@gmail.com
Food Pantry Contributions:
Checks payable to UW-Foundation, with "Open Seat" on the memo line may be mailed to UWRA, 21 North Park Street, Room 7205, Madison, WI 53715-1218.
Registration Deadline: Friday, October 2, 2026
Registration:
Advance registration is required. You are encouraged to register online. To register by phone or email, call the Association office. If you or your guest registered for this seminar but cannot attend, please cancel your registration online, or email/call the UWRA office.
UW-Madison Retirement Association
21 N Park St, Room 7205
Madison WI 53715-1218
608-262-0641
retireassn@mailplus.wisc.edu
