Zoltan L. Hajnal

Zoltan L. Hajnal is a Professor of Political Science at the University of California, San Diego, holding joint appointments in the School of Global Policy and Strategy and the Department of Political Science. He serves as Co-Director of the Yankelovich Center for Social Science Research, facilitating partnerships between researchers and practitioners to address critical social issues through evidence-based solutions.

His educational background includes a Ph.D. (1998) and M.A. (1993) in Political Science from the University of Chicago and a B.S. in Geophysics/Political Science from Yale University (1990).

Hajnal is a leading scholar in racial and ethnic politics, urban politics, and political behavior, with research critically examining how political institutions affect civic participation and representation for disadvantaged groups. He is particularly renowned for his work on how low-turnout and off-cycle elections systematically disadvantage minority voters, with findings directly influencing electoral reforms across Arizona, California, Nevada, and New York.

His publication portfolio reveals consistent focus on racial inequality in American democracy, with award-winning books like "White Backlash" (2015) and "America's Uneven Democracy" (2010) demonstrating the disconnect between minority voter preferences and government responsiveness. Hajnal's research trajectory shows increasing emphasis on practical policy applications, particularly through institutional reforms to enhance representation.

As Co-Director of the Yankelovich Center, Hajnal leads initiatives that bridge social science research with real-world policy implementation, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration on democracy, equity, and governance challenges while maintaining active engagement with media outlets including The New York Times and Washington Post.