Candice Nelson
Department Chair, Government
Department of Government
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Additional Positions at AU
Academic Director, The Campaign Management Institute
Director, MA in Political Communication
- Candice J. Nelson is a Professor in the Department of Government and the Academic Director of the Campaign Management Institute. She is an expert on presidential and congressional elections, and also studies voting behavior, campaign finance, and campaign finance reform. Her most recent book is Grant Park: The Democratization of Presidential Elections: 1968-2008 (Brookings Institution Press, 2011).
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Degrees
PhD Univesity of California at Berkeley
MA University of California, Los Angeles
BA Wheaton College - DOWNLOAD FULL BIO (PDF)
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OFFICE
- SPA - Government
- Ward - 232
- Friday 10-12, 1-3
FOR THE MEDIA
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To request an interview for a
news story, call AU Communications
at 202-885-5950 or submit a request.
Teaching
Spring 2013
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- GOVT-520 Adv Studies in Campaign Mgmt: Campaign Management Institute
- Description
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- GOVT-521 Topics in Campaign Management: Running for Office
- Description
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- GOVT-521 Topics in Campaign Management: Campaign Leadership
- Description
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- SPAG-777 Master's Continuing Enrollment
- Description
Fall 2013
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- GOVT-521 Topics in Campaign Management: Field Organization
- Description
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- GOVT-628 Proseminar in Political Comm
- Description
Scholarly, Creative & Professional Activities
Research Interests
Congressional and Presidential Elections, Campaign Finance, Campaign Finance Reform, Voting Behavior
Work In Progress
- Campaigns and Elections American Style, 3rd ed. (with James Thurber), Westview Press, 2009
Selected Publications
- Vital Signs: The Health of American Campaigning (with David Dulio), The Brookings Institution, 2005
- Campaigns and Elections American Style , ed. (with James Thurber), Westview Press, 2004
- Shades of Gray: Perspectives on Campaign Ethics , ed. (with David Dulio and Stephen Medvic), Brookings, 2002
- Campaign Warriors: Political Consultants in Elections , ed. (with James Thurber), Brookings, 2000
- Crowded Airwaves: Campaign Advertising in Elections , ed. (with James Thurber and David Dulio), Brookings2000
- The Myth of the Independent Voter (with Keith et. al.), University of California Press, 1992
- The Money Chase: Congressional Campaign Finance Reform (with David Magleby), Brookings, 1990
AU Expert
Area of Expertise: Congress, congressional elections, presidential elections, campaign finance and campaign finance reform, voting behavior, interest groups, political party identification, political action committees
Additional Information: Candice Nelson is the academic director of AU's Campaign Management Institute (CMI). For more than two decades CMI has served as a nationally recognized program designed to train individuals for participation in local, state, and federal political campaigns. Developed and taught by strategists from the Republican and Democratic parties, national campaign consultants, and political scientists, the intensive two-week program serves as a valuable foundation for political activists and campaign managers. Nelson also served as a special assistant to former Senate Majority Whip Alan Cranston and as an American Political Science Association Congressional Fellow. An industry expert in campaign finance reform, she is coauthor of The Money Chase: Congressional Campaign Finance Reform; The Myth of the Independent Voter; and Vital Signs: Perspectives on the Health of American Campaigning. Nelson is also coeditor of Campaigns and Elections American Style; Campaign Warriors: Political Consultants in Elections; and Crowded Airwaves: Campaign Advertising in Elections, as well as numerous other articles and books.
Media Relations
To request an interview please call AU Media Relations at 202-885-5950 or
submit an interview request form.
MEDIA RELATIONS
- AU Media Relations
- All AU Faculty Experts
AU News and Achievements
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Candice Nelson Discusses New Book, GOP Primaries
SPA professor is the author of 'Grant Park: The Democratization of Presidential Elections 1968–2008.'...
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Two New Books Help Explain the 2012 Elections
New research uncovers what drives political ambition and evolution of the presidential nomination process ...
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AU Experts Analyze Obama's Re-Election
In the wake of President Obama's victory, AU experts examine campaign wins and losses. ...
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Recently Released
For National Book Month, we feature recent releases from AU faculty, students and alumni....
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Do Iowa and New Hampshire Know Best?
CCPS panel explored whether beginning the presidential election process in those states still works....
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Political Communication MA Offers Best of Both Worlds
A great program for future communication directors, political pollsters, media consultants, public affairs ...
Read More


