More on the State Politics and Policy section

• Best Journal Article Award
• Best Paper Award
• Career Achievement Award
• Christopher Z. Mooney Dissertation Award
• Mac Jewell Enduring Contribution Book Award
• State Politics and Policy Quarterly (SPPQ) Best Paper Award
• Virginia Gray Best Book Award
• Tom Carsey Scholars
• Emerging Scholar Award
• Best Graduate Student Paper Award
• Service Award

Best Journal Article Award

The award recognizes the best journal article on U.S. state politics or policy published during the previous calendar year in any peer-reviewed journal (book reviews, review essays, and chapters published in edited volumes are not eligible.

2025	Galen Hall, University of Michigan – Ann Arbor Joshua Basseches, Tulane University Rebecca Bromley-Trujillo, Christopher Newport University Trevor Culhane, Brown University “CHORUS: A New Dataset of State Interest Group Policy Positions in the United States.” State Politica & Policy Quarterly 24(3): 322-347.
2024	James M. Strickland, Arizona State University “The Contingent Value of Connections: Legislative Turnover and revolving-door Lobbyists.” Business and Politics 25(2): 152-172. 2023.
2023	Mitchell Kilborn, Harvard University “Public Money Talks Too: How Public Campaign Financing Degrades Representation.” American Journal of Political Science 66: 730-744. 2022.
2023	Arjun Vishwanath, Harvard University “Public Money Talks Too: How Public Campaign Financing Degrades Representation.” American Journal of Political Science 66: 730-744. 2022.
2022	Gerald Gamm, University of Rochester “Life, Literacy, and the Pursuit of Prosperity: Party Competition and Policy Outcomes in 50 States.” American Political Science Review, 2021.
2022	Thad Kousser, University of California, San Diego “Life, Literacy, and the Pursuit of Prosperity: Party Competition and Policy Outcomes in 50 States.” American Political Science Review, 2021.
2021	Jeffrey J. Harden, University of Notre Dame “Does Transparency Inhibit Political Compromise?” American Journal of Political Science, Early View, September, 2020.
2021	Justin H. Kirkland, University of Virginia “Does Transparency Inhibit Political Compromise?” American Journal of Political Science, Early View, September, 2020.
2021	Srinivas Parinandi, University of Colorado “Policy Inventing and Borrowing among State Legislatures.” American Journal of Political Science 64(4): 852-868. 2020.
2020	Alexandra Filindra, University of Illinois at Chicago “Is ‘Threat’ in the Eye of the Researcher? Theory and Measurement in the Study of State-Level Immigration Policymaking.”
2019	Mirya R. Holman, Tulane University “Stop, Collaborate, and Listen: Women’s Collaboration in US State Legislatures.” Legislative Studies Quarterly 43(2):179-206.
2019	Anna Mahoney, Tulane University “Stop, Collaborate, and Listen: Women’s Collaboration in US State Legislatures.” Legislative Studies Quarterly 43(2):179-206.
2018	Neal D. Woods, University of South Carolina “Gone with the Wind: Federalism and the Strategic Location of Air Polluters.” American Journal of Political Science. 16(2):257–270.
2018	David M. Konisky, Indiana University “Gone with the Wind: Federalism and the Strategic Location of Air Polluters.” American Journal of Political Science. 16(2):257–270.
2018	James E. Monogan III, University of Georgia “Gone with the Wind: Federalism and the Strategic Location of Air Polluters.” American Journal of Political Science. 16(2):257–270.
2017	Devin Caughey, Massachusetts Institute of Technology “The Dynamics of State Policy Liberalism, 1936-2014.” The American Journal of Political Science 60(4):899-913.
2017	Christopher Warsaw, Massachusetts Institute of Technology “The Dynamics of State Policy Liberalism, 1936-2014.” The American Journal of Political Science 60(4):899-913.
2016	Frederick J. Boehmke, University of Iowa “Pivotal Politics and Initiative Use in the American State.” Political Research Quarterly, 2015, 68(4): 665-677
2016	Tracy L. Osborn, University of Iowa “Pivotal Politics and Initiative Use in the American State.” Political Research Quarterly, 2015, 68(4): 665-677
2016	Emily U. Schilling, University of Tennessee “Pivotal Politics and Initiative Use in the American State.” Political Research Quarterly, 2015, 68(4): 665-677
2015	Eric McGhee, Public Policy Institute of California “A Primary Cause of Partnership? Nomination Systems and Legislator Ideology.” AJPS 2014.
2015	Seth Masket, University of Denver “A Primary Cause of Partnership? Nomination Systems and Legislator Ideology.” AJPS 2014.
2015	Boris Shor, Georgetown University “A Primary Cause of Partnership? Nomination Systems and Legislator Ideology.” AJPS 2014.
2015	Steven Rogers, Saint Louis University “A Primary Cause of Partnership? Nomination Systems and Legislator Ideology.” AJPS 2014.
2015	Nolan McCarty, Princeton University “A Primary Cause of Partnership? Nomination Systems and Legislator Ideology.” AJPS 2014.
2015	Barry Burden, University of Wisconsin-Madison “Election Laws, Mobilization, and Turnout: The Unintended Consequences of Electoral Reform.” AJPS 2014.
2015	David Canon, University of Wisconsin-Madison “Election Laws, Mobilization, and Turnout: The Unintended Consequences of Electoral Reform.” AJPS 2014.
2015	Ken Mayer, University of Wisconsin-Madison “Election Laws, Mobilization, and Turnout: The Unintended Consequences of Electoral Reform.” AJPS 2014.
2015	Don Moynihan, University of Wisconsin-Madison “Election Laws, Mobilization, and Turnout: The Unintended Consequences of Electoral Reform.” AJPS 2014.
2014	Elizabeth Rigby, George Washington University “Political Parties and Representation of the Poor in the American States.” (American Journal of Political Science, 57 (2013), 552-54)
2014	Gerald Wright, Indiana University, Bloomington “Political Parties and Representation of the Poor in the American States.” (American Journal of Political Science, 57 (2013), 552-54)

Best Paper Award

The Best Paper Award is given for the best paper on state politics given at the previous year’s APSA Annual Meeting.

2015	Devin Caughey, Massachusetts Institute of Technology “Dynamic Representation in the American States, 1960-2012”
2015	Christopher Warshaw, Massachusetts Institute of Technology “Dynamic Representation in the American States, 1960-2012”
2014	Gerald Gamm, University of Rochester “Contingent Partisanship: When Party Labels Matter- and When They Don’t- in the Distribution of Pork in American State Legislators”
2014	Thad Kousser, University of California, San Diego “Contingent Partisanship: When Party Labels Matter- and When They Don’t- in the Distribution of Pork in American State Legislators”
2014	Gerald Gamm, University of Rochester “Contigent Partisanship: When party Labels Matter – and When They Don’t’t – in the Distribution of Pork in American State Legislators”
2013	Michael Herron, Dartmouth College “Getting Your Souls to the Polls: The Racial Impact of Reducing Early In-Person Voting in Florida”
2013	Daniel Smith, University of Florida “Getting Your Souls to the Polls: The Racial Impact of Reducing Early In-Person Voting in Florida.”
2012	William Franko, Auburn University “Income Inequality”
2012	Loren Collingwood, University of California, Riverside “The Pursuit of Victory and Incorporation: Elite Strategy, Group Pressure, and Cross Racial Mobilization”
2012	Seth Masket, University of Denver “Polarization without Parties: The Rise of Legislative Partisanship in Nebraska’s Unicameral Legislature”
2012	Boris Shor, University of California, Berkeley “Polarization without Parties: The Rise of Legislative Partisanship in Nebraska’s Unicameral Legislature”
2011	Stephen Yoder, University of Maryland “With a Little Help from Our Feds: Understanding State/Federal Cooperation on Immigration Enforcement”
2011	Heather Creek, University of Maryland “With a Little Help from Our Feds: Understanding State/Federal Cooperation on Immigration Enforcement”
2011	Thad Kousser, University of California, San Diego “The Roots of Executive Power”
2011	Justin Phillips, Columbia University “The Roots of Executive Power”
2010	Julianna Pacheco, Pennsylvania State University “Thermostatic Policy Responsiveness in the Fifty States”
2010	Arthur Lupia, University of Michigan “Why State Constitutions Differ in the Treatment of Same-Sex Marriage”
2010	Yanna Krupnikov, University of Michigan “Why State Constitutions Differ in the Treatment of Same-Sex Marriage”
2010	Adam Levine, University of Michigan “Why State Constitutions Differ in the Treatment of Same-Sex Marriage”
2010	Spencer Piston, University of Michigan “Why State Constitutions Differ in the Treatment of Same-Sex Marriage”
2010	Alexander Von Hagen-Jamar, University of Michigan “Why State Constitutions Differ in the Treatment of Same-Sex Marriage”
2009	Todd Makse, Ohio State University “Winning’s Half the Battle: How Parties Finanace State Legislative Candidates in Post Redistricting Election”
2009	Rosemary Taylor, Tufts University “The Social Sources of The Gradient: A Cross-National Analysis of the Pathways Linking Social Class to Population Health”
2009	Teena Wilhelm, Unversity of Georgia “To Join or Not to Join the Chief Justice: Associate Justices and Separate Opinion Behavior”
2006	Daniel Smith, University of Florida “Do State-Level Ballot Measures Affect Presidential Elections? Gay Marriage and the 2004 Election”
2006	Caroline Tolbert, Kent State University “Do State-Level Ballot Measures Affect Presidential Elections? Gay Marriage and the 2004 Election”
2006	Todd Donovan, Western Washington University “Do State-Level Ballot Measures Affect Presidential Elections? Gay Marriage and the 2004 Election”
2003	Seth Masket, University of California-Los Angeles “Building Better Partisans: What California’s Experience with Cross-Filing Teaches Us About Party Politics”
2003	Virginia Gray, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill “Sisyphus Meets the Borg: Understanding the Diversity of Interest Communities”
2003	Matthew Fellowes, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill “Sisyphus Meets the Borg: Understanding the Diversity of Interest Communities”
2003	David Lowery, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill “Sisyphus Meets the Borg: Understanding the Diversity of Interest Communities”
2002	Michael Bernhard, Pennsylvania State University “Democratization in Germany: A Reappraisal”
2001	Thomas Rudolph, University of Minnesota “Divided Government and Fiscal Policy in the American States”
2001	Lael Keiser, University of Missouri at Columbia “State Governments, Vertical Transfer, and the Implementation of Public Policy”
2000	Paul Brace, Rice University “Public Opinion in the American States”
2000	Craig Arceneaux, Rice University “Public Opinion in the American States”
2000	Martin Johnson, Rice University “Public Opinion in the American States”
1999	Michael Mintrom, Michigan University “Local Organization as Sites for Deliberative Democracy–Learning from Charter Schools”
1998	William Berry, Florida State University “Reassessing the ‘Race to the Bottom’ Thesis: A Spatial Dependence Model of State Welfare Policy”
1998	Richard Fording, University of Kentucky “Reassessing the ‘Race to the Bottom’ Thesis: A Spatial Dependence Model of State Welfare Policy”
1998	Russell Hanson, Indiana University, Bloomington “Reassessing the ‘Race to the Bottom’ Thesis: A Spatial Dependence Model of State Welfare Policy”
1997	Randall Partin, University of Colorado “Campaign Intensity and Voter Information: A Look at Gubernatorial Contests”
1996	Keith Hamm, Rice University “The Development of Committee Specialization in State Legislatures”
1996	Ronald Hedlund, University of Rhode Island “The Development of Committee Specialization in State Legislatures”
1995	Paul Brace, Florida State University “Tax Changes and Economic Performance in the American States”
1994	Kim Hill, Texas A&M; University “Lower Class Mobilization and Redistributive Policy: A Longitudinal Analysis”
1994	Jan Leighley, Texas A&M; University “Lower Class Mobilization and Redistributive Policy: A Longitudinal Analysis”
1994	Angela Andersson, Texas A&M; University “Lower Class Mobilization and Redistributive Policy: A Longitudinal Analysis”
1993	Robert Brown, University of Mississippi

Career Achievement Award

The Career Achievement Award given every biennium to a political scientist who has made a significant lifetime contribution to the study of politics and public policies in the American states.

2025	Janine Parry, University of Arkansas
2024	Caroline Tolbert, University of Iowa
2023	Keith A. Hamm, Rice University
2022	Charles Barrilleaux, Florida State University
2021	Lynda W. Powell, University of Rochester
2020	Rodney Hero, Arizona State University
2019	William D. Berry, Florida State University
2018	Peverill Squire, University of Missouri, Columbia
2017	Tom Carsey, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
2016	Melinda Gann Hall, Michigan State University
2014	Richard Winters, Dartmouth College
2013	David Lowery, Pennsylvania State University
2012	Christopher Mooney, University of Illinois, Springfield
2011	Gerald Wright, Indiana University, Bloomington
2010	Kenneth Meier, Texas A&M; University
2009	Ronald Weber
2007	Virginia Gray, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
2003	Malcolm Jewell, University of Kentucky
2001	Sarah Morehouse, University of Connecticut
1999	Thomas Dye, Florida State University

Christopher Z. Mooney Dissertation Award

This award is given for the best dissertation in American state politics and policy completed during the previous calendar year.

2025	Michael Auslen, University of Texas at Austin “Essays on Media and Public Opinion in State and Local Politics”
2025	Honorable Mention Tracee Saunders, Penn State “Inaccessible by Design: Policy Design, Administrative Burden, and the Politics of Medicaid Take-Up”
2024	Derek Holliday, University of California, Los Angeles “The Reaches and Limits of Nationalization in U.S. Politics”
2023	Amber Lusvardi, University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh “The End of the Child Bride: Social Movements and State Policymaking on Underage Marriage.”
2022	Michael R. Kistner, University of Houston “Fundraising for the Caucus: Money, Party Politics, and Policymaking in American Legislature”
2021	Scott LaCombe, Smith College “Institutional Design and the Politics of U.S. States.”
2020	Anna Gunderson, Emory University “Why Do States Privatize Their Prisons? The Unintended Consequences of Inmate Litigation”
2019	Tessa Provins, University of California, Merced “The Value of Legislative Design: A Comparative Analysis of State Legislative Institutions.” PhD diss., University of California, Merced.
2018	Julia Payson, Stanford University “When Governments Lobby.” Unpublished PhD Dissertation. Stanford University. 2017.
2017	Matthew N. Tokeshi, Williams College “White Voters’ Response to African American Candidates for High-Profile Statewide Offices.”
2016	Chidambaram Parinandi (directed by Jenna Bednar and Charles Shipan), University of Michigan, Ann Arbor “Devolution and Policy Experimentation under Federalism: Essays on Innovation and Emulation in the American States.”
2015	Jaclyn J. Kettler, Boise State University (Ph.D., Rice University) “The Right to Party (Resources): Political Party Networks and Candidate Success.” Rice University 2014.
2014	Julianna Koch, Cornell University “States of Inequality: Government Partisanship, Public Policies, and Income Disparity in the American States, 1970-2005”
2014	Steven Rogers, Princeton University “Accountability in a Federal System”
2013	Daniel Biggers, Yale University
2013	Jeffrey Harden, University of Colorado Boulder
2012	Jason Windett, Saint Louis University (Ph.D. University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill) Understanding Female Candidates and Campaigns for Governor
2011	Julianna Pacheco, Pennsylvania State University Iowa (Ph.D. Pennsylvania State University) Dynamic Public Opinion and Policy Responsiveness in the American States
2010	Nicole Kazee, University of Illinois, Chicago (Ph.D. Yale University) “Wal-Mart Welfare: Business, Fiscal Regimes, and the Politics of Health Policy in the American States,”

Mac Jewell Enduring Contribution Award

This award is given to the author(s) of a political science book or article on the subject of U.S. state politics or policy published at least 10 years prior to the award being bestowed that stands as an enduring contribution to the literature.

2025	Boris Shor, University of Houston Nolan McCarty, Princeton University “The Ideological Mapping of American Legislatures.” American Political Science Review 56(1):148–166. 2012.
2025	Kathleen Bratton, Louisiana State University Kerry Haynie, Duke University “Agenda-Setting and Legislative Success in State Legislatures: The Effects of Gender and Race.” Journal of Politics 61(3): 658-679. 1999.
2023	Beth Reingold, Emory University Representing Women: Sex, Gender, and Legislative Behavior in Arizona and California. Chapel Hill, NC: The University of North Carolina Press 2000.
2020	Sue Thomas, Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation How Women Legislate (Georgetown University Press, 1994)
2027	Virginia Gray, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Politics in the American States: A Comparative Analysis (11th Edition) CQ Press, 2017.
2017	Russel L. Hanson, Indiana University Politics in the American States: A Comparative Analysis (11th Edition) CQ Press, 2017.
2017	Thad Kousser, University of California, San Diego Politics in the American States: A Comparative Analysis (11th Edition) CQ Press, 2017.
2014	Robert Erikson, Columbia University Statehouse Democracy: Public Opinion and Policy in the American States (Cambridge University Press, 1993)
2014	Gerald Wright, Indiana University, Bloomington Statehouse Democracy: Public Opinion and Policy in the American States (Cambridge University Press, 1993)
2014	John McIver, University of Colorado, Boulder Statehouse Democracy: Public Opinion and Policy in the American States (Cambridge University Press, 1993)

State Politics and Policy Quarterly (SPPQ) Best Paper Award

The State Politics and Policy Award is given for the best paper on state politics and policy presented at any professional meeting in the previous calendar year.

2025	Gerald Gamm, University of Rochester Justin R. Phillips, Columbia University “Party Reform and the Origins of Abortion Politics”
2024	Jennifer Gaudette, University of California, San Diego “Why American Federalism is a Recipe for Distrust in Elections (And What to Do About It).” Seth Hill, University of California, San Diego “Why American Federalism is a Recipe for Distrust in Elections (And What to Do About It).” Thad Kousser, University of California, San Diego “Why American Federalism is a Recipe for Distrust in Elections (And What to Do About It).” MacKenzie Lockhart, Yale University “Why American Federalism is a Recipe for Distrust in Elections (And What to Do About It).” Mindy Romero, University of Southern California “Why American Federalism is a Recipe for Distrust in Elections (And What to Do About It).” Laura Uribe, University of California, San Diego “Why American Federalism is a Recipe for Distrust in Elections (And What to Do About It).”
2024	G. Agustin Markarian, Loyola University Chicago “Why Parkland, Not Pulse? Racially Disparate Policy Responses to Mass Shootings.
2023	Danielle Thomsen, University of California, Irvine “Legislative Effectiveness, Progressive Ambition, and Electoral Success.” Presented at the 2022 APSA Annual Meeting Sarah A. Treul, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill “Legislative Effectiveness, Progressive Ambition, and Electoral Success.” Presented at the 2022 APSA Annual Meeting Craig Volden, University of Virginia; Alan E. Wiseman, Vanderbilt University “Legislative Effectiveness, Progressive Ambition, and Electoral Success.” Presented at the 2022 APSA Annual Meeting
2022	Derek E. Holliday, University of California, Los Angeles “DC On My Mind: National Considerations in State Political Decisions.” Presented at the APSA 2021 Annual Meeting.
2022	Aaron Rudkin, University of California, Los Angeles DC On My Mind: National Considerations in State Political Decisions.” Presented at the APSA 2021 Annual Meeting.
2021	Peter Bucchianeri, Vanderbilt University “Legislative Effectiveness in the American States.”
2021	Craig Volden, University of Virginia “Legislative Effectiveness in the American States.”
2021	Alan E. Wiseman, Vanderbilt University “Legislative Effectiveness in the American States.”
2021	Zoe Nemerever, University of California, San Diego “Rural Representation in the American States.”
2020	Jesse Crosson, Trinity University “Divided, But by What? Divided Government, Institutions and Policy Statsis.” 2019 American Political Science Association Conference.
2020	Michael Olson, Harvard University “Divided, But by What? Divided Government, Institutions and Policy Statsis.” 2019 American Political Science Association Conference.
2019	Mary Kroeger, University of Rochester “Bureaucrats as Lobbyists.” Presented at the American Political Science Association Annual Meeting, 2018.
2018	Mary Kroeger, University of Rochester “Bill Changes in State Legislatures.”
2017	Christina Ladem, University of Colorado “Follow the Leader: Prominent Female Politicians and the Emergence of Women Candidates for Public Office.”
2017	Jeffrey Harden, University of Notre Dame “Follow the Leader: Prominent Female Politicians and the Emergence of Women Candidates for Public Office.”
2017	Jason Windett, University of North Carolina at Charlotte “Follow the Leader: Prominent Female Politicians and the Emergence of Women Candidates for Public Office.”
2016	Mona Vakilifathi, University of California, San Diego “Constraining Bureaucrats Today Knowing You’ll Be Gone Tomorrow: The Effect of Legislative Term Limits on Statutory Discretion.”
2015	Graeme T. Boushey, University of California, Irvine “Experts, Amateurs, and Bureaucratic Influence in the American States.” Presented at the 2014 APSA annual meeting and the 2014 MPSA annual meeting.
2015	Robert J. McGrath, University of Michigan & George Mason University “Experts, Amateurs, and Bureaucratic Influence in the American States.” Presented at the 2014 APSA annual meeting and the 2014 MPSA annual meeting.
2014	James Monogan III, University of Georgia “Gone with the Wind: Federalism and the Strategic Placement of Air Polluters.” Presented at the 2013 State Politics and Policy Conference
2014	Neal Woods, University of South Carolina “Gone with the Wind: Federalism and the Strategic Placement of Air Polluters.” Presented at the 2013 State Politics and Policy Conference
2014	David Konisky, Georgetown University “Gone with the Wind: Federalism and the Strategic Placement of Air Polluters.” Presented at the 2013 State Politics and Policy Conference
2013	Christopher Mooney, University of Illinois “Legislative Thinking: Responsibility, Motivation, and Cognitive Complexity in U.S.Statehouses”
2012	Melinda Gann Hall, Michigan State University “Democratic Initiatives in State Supreme Courts: Judicial Behavior in the Terminal Term“
2011	Michael Berkman, Pennsylvania State University “Multi-Level Policy Responsiveness to Public Opinion: From Statehouse to Street-Level”
2011	Eric Plutzer, Pennsylvania State University “Multi-Level Policy Responsiveness to Public Opinion: From Statehouse to Street-Level”
2010	Jeffrey Lax, Columbia University “Explaining Democratic Performance in the States”
2010	Justin Phillips, Columbia University “Explaining Democratic Performance in the States”
2006	Melinda Gann Hall, Michigan State University “Mobilizing Voters in State Supreme Court Elections: Competition and Other Contextual Forces as Democratic Incentives.”
2006	Gary Cox, University of California, San Diego “What Polarizes Parties? Preferences and Agenda Control in American State Legislatures”
2006	Thad Kousser, University of California, San Diego “What Polarizes Parties? Preferences and Agenda Control in American State Legislatures”
2006	Mathew McCubbins, University of California, San Diego “What Polarizes Parties? Preferences and Agenda Control in American State Legislatures”
2003	Raymond Wolfinger, University of Calfornia- Berkeley “Between Registering and Voting: How State Laws Affect Voter Turnout of Young Registrants”
2003	Ben Highton, University of California, Davis “Between Registering and Voting: How State Laws Affect Voter Turnout of Young Registrants”
2003	Megan Mullin, University of California, Berkeley “Between Registering and Voting: How State Laws Affect Voter Turnout of Young Registrants”

Virginia Gray Best Book Award

To be awarded annually to the best political science book published on the subject of U.S. state politics or policy in the preceding three calendar years.

2025	Steven Rogers, Saint Louis University Accountability in State Legislatures. University of Chicago Press, 2023.
2025	Peverill Squire, University of Missouri Reforming Legislatures: American Voters and State Ballot Measures, 1792-2020. University of Missouri Press, 2024.
2024	Devin Caughey, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Dynamic Democracy: Public Opinion, Elections, and Policymaking in the American States. University of Chicago Press, 2022.
2024	Christopher Warshaw, George Washington University Dynamic Democracy: Public Opinion, Elections, and Policymaking in the American States. University of Chicago Press, 2022.
2023	Jacob M. Grumbach, University of Washington Laboratories Against Democracy: How National Parties Transformed State Politics. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. 2022.
2022	James L. Gibson, Washington University Judging Inequality:State Supreme Courts and the Inequality Crisis. Russell Sage Foundation, 2021.
2022	Michael J. Nelson, Pennsylvania State University Judging Inequality:State Supreme Courts and the Inequality Crisis. Russell Sage Foundation, 2021.
2022	Christopher J. Clark, University of North Carolina Gaining Voice: The Causes and Consequences of Black Representation in the American States.Oxford University Press, 2019.
2021	Leah C. Stokes, University of California, Santa Barbara Short Circuiting Policy: Interest Groups and the Battle Over Clean Energy and Climate Policy in the American States. Oxford University Press, 2020.
2020	Joshua J. Dyck, University of Massachusetts, Lowell Initiatives without Engagement: A Realistic Appraisal of Direct Democracy’s Secondary Effects.
2020	Edward L. Lascher, Jr., California State University, Sacramento Initiatives without Engagement: A Realistic Appraisal of Direct Democracy’s Secondary Effects.
2019	Jamila Michener, Cornell University Fragmented Democracy. Cambridge University Press, 2018.
2018	Christopher Witko, South Carolina University The New Economic Populism: How States Respond to Economic Inequality. Oxford University Press. 2017.
2018	William F. Franko, West Virginia University The New Economic Populism: How States Respond to Economic Inequality. Oxford University Press. 2017.
2017	Jeffrey J. Harden, University of Notre Dame Multidimensional Democracy: A Supply and Demand Theory of Representation in American Legislatres. Cambridge University Press, 2016.
2016	Christopher W. Bonneau, University of Pittsburgh Voters’ Verdicts: Citizens, Campaigns, and Institutions in State Supreme Court Elections. University of Virginia Press.
2016	Damon M. Cann, Utah State University Voters’ Verdicts: Citizens, Campaigns, and Institutions in State Supreme Court Elections. University of Virginia Press.
2016	Ray La Raja, University of Massachusetts, Amherst Campaign Finance and Political Polarization: When Purists Prevail. University of Michigan Press.
2016	Brian Schaffner, University of Massachusetts, Amherst Campaign Finance and Political Polarization: When Purists Prevail. University of Michigan Press.
2015	Sarah F. Anzia, University of California, Berkeley Timing and Turnout: How Off-Cycle Elections Favor Organized Interests. The University of Chicago Press, 2014.
2014	Thad Kousser, University of California, San Diego The Power of American Governors: Winning on Budget and Losing on Policy (University of Cambridge Press, 2012)
2014	Justin Phillips, Columbia University The Power of American Governors: Winning on Budget and Losing on Policy (University of Cambridge Press, 2012)
2014	Lynda Powell, Dartmouth College The Influence of Campaign Contributions in State Legislators: The Effects of Institutions and Politics (University of Michigan Press, 2012)

 Tom Carsey Scholars

These awards will be given to support graduate student participation in the 2020 State Politics and Policy Conference.   

2020	Hannah Wilson, University of Notre Dame
2020	Tracee Saunders, University of Iowa
2020	Hanna Brant, University of Missouri
2020	Henry Flatt, University of Texas, Austin
2020	Shiro Kuriwaki, Harvard University
2020	Bailey Fairbanks, Georgia State University
2020	Travis Taylor, University of Kentucky
2020	Michaelangelo Landgrave, University of California, Riverside
2020	Micayla Clark, Georgia State University
2020	Naomi Nubin, University of Houston

Emerging Scholar Award

2025	Anna Gunderson, University of Texas at Austin
2025	Michael P. Olson, Washington University in St. Louis
2024	Rebecca Kreitzer, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
2023	Jacob M. Grumbach, University of Washington
2022	Jeffery J. Harden, University of Notre Dame

Best Graduate Student Paper Award

This annual award is given to the author(s) of the best paper on state politics and policy written solely by graduate student authors and presented at any professional meeting in the previous calendar year.

2025	Mackenzie R. Dobson, University of Virginia & University of Notre Dame “Selective Reciprocity in Bipartisan Collaboration: How Majority Security Shapes Legislative Success”

Service Award

The Service Award recognizes service to the section in the literal sense, as in service on committees and in leadership positions, as well as service within the Section, as in service to the profession within the field of state politics and policy in the form of archiving data, promoting infrastructure, representing the profession in the media, etc. 

2025	Jason Windett, University of North Carolina at Charlotte