Conner Huey
Undergraduate Fellow, 2024-25
Government
Conner Huey is a recipient of a 2024 CAPS Undergraduate Summer Thesis Research Grant. Conner’s proposed thesis is entitled, “The Progressive Paradox: Democratic Party Resilience in Rural Western Washington, 1976 – 2024.”
Proposal synopsis: I will trace the political development of rural Western Washington from 1976 to 2024 to understand why this rural white working-class region is dominated by the Democratic Party when regions with similar identities nationwide have shifted support to the Republicans. Following work on social capital and networks by scholars like Robert Putnam and Theda Skocpol, I will examine the interplay between competing regional networks such as unions and veterans organizations in shaping political support.