Thad Kousser

Thad Kousser is a professor of political science at UC San Diego. He received his Ph.D. from UC Berkeley in 2002. His research interests include state politics, legislatures and legislative elections, and California politics.

He has authored, co-authored or edited the books “Term Limits and the Dismantling of State Legislative Professionalism,” “Adapting to Term Limits: Recent Experiences and New Directions,” “The New Political Geography of California” and “The Logic of American Politics.” His work also has been published or forthcoming in journals such as the American Political Science Review, Journal of Politics, Political Analysis, Legislative Studies Quarterly, State Politics and Policy Quarterly and the Journal of Law, Economics and Organization.

He is a recipient of the UC San Diego Academic Senate's Distinguished Teaching Award, the Faculty Mentor of the Year Award, serves as co-editor of the journal State Politics and Policy Quarterly and has worked as a staff assistant in the California, New Mexico and U.S. Senates.