Alex Keena

Alex Keena is an Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), within the College of Humanities and Sciences. His research focuses on political representation, electoral systems, redistricting, gerrymandering, money in politics, and legislative behavior, with a particular emphasis on U.S. Senate and state-level politics. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of California, Irvine (2016), a B.A. from Loyola University Chicago, and an A.A. from J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College.

Keena’s research interests center on how institutional design affects democratic representation. He investigates the consequences of gerrymandering on federalism and public policy, the influence of campaign finance on legislative behavior, and how district size affects voter engagement and political inequality. His work combines rigorous quantitative analysis with public scholarship, aiming to bridge academic research and democratic reform.

His publications reveal a consistent focus on partisan bias in electoral systems, the role of money in Senate elections, and the representational effects of population size. He frequently examines how elite donors, out-of-state contributions, and small-dollar fundraising shape legislative incentives. His recent work analyzes digital fundraising via social media and the long-term ideological effects of campaign finance reforms.

• Scientific Awards: No awards are mentioned in the provided text.

Keena actively advises students and contributes to public discourse through media outlets such as CNN, CBS Sunday Morning, The Washington Post, Scientific American, and LSE’s USAPP blog. He has co-authored two influential books on gerrymandering and published in top political science journals including Political Research Quarterly, Election Law Journal, and Congress & the Presidency. While no formal lab or research team is mentioned, his collaborative work with scholars like Michael Latner, Anthony McGann, and Charles Anthony Smith indicates strong research partnerships. He teaches courses in research methods, elections, Congress, and state politics, contributing to both undergraduate and graduate education at VCU.