When “Nonpartisan” Isn’t Neutral: Police Union Endorsements and City Polarization

In this episode of Policy Chats, Professor Jennifer Gaudette joins host Dori Pham to discuss polarization in local politics and how voters make decisions in nonpartisan elections with limited information. She explains how the absence of party labels and the decline of local news push voters to rely on shortcuts like endorsements.Professor Gaudette shares her research showing that police union endorsements are increasingly read as a conservative signal in mayoral and city council races, while teachers union endorsements often signal a more liberal candidate. The conversation also highlights why firefighters unions do not create the same polarized reactions, and what that reveals about endorsements tied to expertise versus ideology.The episode closes with reflections on campaign strategy, the future of nonpartisan local democracy, and how local journalism and short-form social media shape political trust and misinformation.🔍 Topics Covered:- How voters decide in nonpartisan local elections with limited information- Why police union endorsements have become more polarized over time- Endorsements as “information shortcuts” when party labels are absent- How local candidates strategically pursue targeted endorsements- The case for (and controversy around) partisan versus nonpartisan elections📍 This episode is produced by the UCR School of Public Policy and features insights that align with our motto: “Solutions for the Region, Solutions for the World.”Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the interviewers and guests alone and do not reflect the official positions of the UC Riverside School of Public Policy or the University of California, Riverside.🎧 Guest Speaker: Jennifer Gaudette, Assistant Professor at the UCR School of Public PolicyInterviewed by: Dori Pham, Host of Policy Chats & Vir Sinha🎵 Music by Vir Sinha🔗 Learn more: spp.ucr.edu/podcast📱 Follow us on Instagram: @ucr_spp👉 Be sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode exploring how policy shapes our future.