Demystifying Congress
Associate Professor Kathryn Pearson is a powerhouse in American politics.
A former Capitol Hill staffer, award-winning educator, and trusted expert for journalists, Pearson has spent her career demystifying Congress, bringing insight to some of our most pressing questions: How do lawmakers wield power? What barriers do women in politics face? And how do shifts in partisanship affect governance?
But for the college’s 2025 Dean’s Medalist, Congress is also a classroom—a dynamic learning environment where political strategies and lessons unfold every day.
How did you come to specialize in American politics and Congress?
As an undergraduate [at Claremont McKenna College], I was completely captivated by an introduction to American government course. I found studying American politics energizing in a way that other subjects weren’t.
The defining moment was a semester-long program in Washington, D.C., during my sophomore year. I interned at the Child Welfare League of America, attended committee markups on Capitol Hill, and saw policymaking in action. That experience, along with writing my senior thesis on the historic 1992 “Year of the Woman” elections, solidified my passion for research on congressional elections and women’s representation.
After graduating, I worked on Capitol Hill for five years, and through that process, being a political staffer, I realized that pursuing a career in politics was not for me. I loved studying politics more than practicing it. That led me to pursue my PhD at UC Berkeley, where I could focus on research in American politics.
Kathryn Pearson
Tell us about your current book project Gendered Partisanship in the House of Representatives.
Since 1992, there has been a tremendous increase in the number of women in Congress, which has made a significant difference for the representation of women in the electorate. There is a connection between women and legislating on behalf of women, or what political scientists call descriptive and substantive representation. More women in office equals more legislation that forwards women’s interests.
At the same time, from the late-80s to the present, there has been an increase in polarization in Congress. Among the hypotheses I test: whether or not the increase has increased the partisanship of women in Congress to a greater degree and more quickly than it has for men.
I found that women in both parties are more loyal to their respective parties than their male colleagues, less likely to vote against their party, and more likely to use floor speeches to criticize the opposing party or praise their own. By analyzing roll call voting, discharge petition signatures, and congressional speeches, my findings show that women exhibit more partisan behavior than men in both parties—especially Republican women over time.
My book explores these themes through the leadership paths of figures like Nancy Pelosi, whose rise to power exemplifies the role of party loyalty, and Liz Cheney, whose career reflects the consequences of breaking with party expectations.
Favorite Congresswoman in history? Without question, Nancy Pelosi, the most effective House Speaker in more than 100 years. In addition to being a champion for women's rights, Pelosi's leadership has opened many doors for current and future women leaders.
I also have to add Patricia "Pat" Schroeder, who represented Colorado's district from 1973 to '96. Schroeder entered Congress at a time when women comprised less than four percent of the chamber and faced resistance from many of her male colleagues. Schroeder was a trailblazer outside and inside Congress for women's rights and anti-discrimination laws, and she was a longtime co-chair of the Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues. And, she received her undergraduate degree from the University of Minnesota!
How has the role of women in American politics evolved?
Essentially, women have to do more to do as well as men.
For instance, my research shows that women running for office often raise more money than their male counterparts, yet they continue to face significant hurdles—even women incumbents in congressional primaries. Additionally, women who run for Congress are more likely to have prior electoral experience than men, suggesting they need to be better prepared to compete. Once in office, women lawmakers tend to be more legislatively active, they introduce more bills, speak on the House floor more frequently, and work harder to secure reelection. But despite these efforts, the expectation remains that women must outperform men to achieve equal success, a pattern that extends more broadly into society, too.
What makes the Department of Political Science in CLA special?
I really appreciate the breadth and depth of my colleagues’ research. We are a pluralistic department. In some political science departments across the country, there’s a “right way” to study politics. That’s not the case here. We all have different approaches to different questions.
And our students are awesome. From my very first undergraduate class on campaigns and elections during Kerry v. Bush, I’ve been impressed by how smart our students are, how hard they work, and the interesting questions they ask. In addition to taking the study of political science seriously, they also do a great job of connecting it with practice. So many of my students volunteer on campaigns, intern in state legislative offices; they go to DC, they go to nonprofits, to NGOs. Over and over, they rise to the occasion.
Take a class with Professor Pearson
This fall 2025 semester course is an introduction to the politics of the US. Congress and the federal legislative process. Throughout the semester, we will focus on the behavior of individual legislators and the role that they play in crafting federal legislation in policy areas such as healthcare, civil rights and the environment. We will devote special attention to changes in Congress, as well as current political and scholarly controversies such as congressional confirmation process of Supreme Court justices, congressional war powers, the influence of parties, and campaign finance. The theme of the course is why do legislators behave as they do and who interests do they represent.
This spring 2026 semester course will provide an overview of the field of gender and politics; and examine the role women play in US policymaking, how public policies are "gendered," and the theories of role(s) gender plays in various aspects of politics.
POL 3733: From Suffragettes to Senators: Gender, Politics & Policy in the US
How do you approach teaching political science in an era of heightened polarization?
In my US campaigns and elections course, we always have students with clear positions on both sides of the aisle, but students generally do a good job managing the class discussion. This isn’t a discussion about who we want to be our next president, but instead, an opportunity to analyze current events through the lens of political science theories.
I really love teaching the US Congress because, while it’s pretty easy for students to follow what’s happening in campaigns, it’s harder to follow the intricacies of what’s happening in Congress without a framework. By the end of the semester, students can trace a bill’s path through committees, understand how legislators draft the rules that govern the consideration of a bill, and know what it means to filibuster. It’s really exciting to see that.
Ultimately, I aim to give students the tools and the framework they need to understand American politics and be prepared to engage in American civic life.
"We need Gen Z to be involved."
Gen Z is juggling a lot, but political disengagement comes at a cost. Professor Kathryn Pearson says the time to lean in is now: “We need Gen Z to be involved in the process and not just tune out.”
Read the Minnesota Daily's Opinion: Politics is Gen Z’s problem, too.
Will we ever have a woman president?
Yes, we’ve come close twice. If you look at empirical data on fundraising, advertising dollars, and get out the vote efforts, both Clinton and Harris ran better campaigns than Trump. Clearly, gender mattered in both of those elections.
However, and especially in 2024, the factors that predict the election results for one party or the other pointed to a Trump victory, even if narrowly. If you had told a political scientist that Biden’s approval rating was at 38% and Americans were unhappy with the state of the economy, that political scientist would have predicted a Republican victory. Not to say that gender didn’t matter on the campaign trail, but it’s important to consider the context.
So the next time a woman runs for president in an election where the political landscape favors her party, she will win.
In session with Professor Pearson
Best place to follow election news?
No one source; follow several sources, including those not aligned with your politics, for greater perspective and a more nuanced understanding of what voters are learning about! Include national coverage from places like the New York Times, local sources such as MinnPost and MPR, and data-intensive sources like fivethirtyeight.com, along with sources with politically biased viewpoints. You didn't ask, but the best place to follow the US Congress is punchbowl.news.
Piece of advice you'd give to a woman running for office?
Identify why you want to serve in office and let that motivate and guide you, build your team of supporters, take advantage of the amazing organizations out there supporting women candidates, and don't be afraid to ask for money. Also, don't read the comments sections; people can be awful.
One thing people misunderstand about Congress?
Two things: the importance of budget reconciliation for passing legislation in the Senate and how little power House minority party members have to influence the legislative process.
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