For political scientists, national electoral politics typically appeals more than the study of governance and elections at the local level. “Local politics is thought of as a bit of a backwater, dealing with smaller issues such as zoning and economic development,” says Asya Magazinnik, assistant professor of political science. “We tend to think of national government — Congress and the president — as attending to the big issues of the day, such as immigration, health care, and taxes.” But according to Magazinnik, who joined MIT in July 2019 as an…
