John J. Pitney Jr.

About the Author

John J. Pitney Jr. is a distinguished political scientist and professor emeritus at Claremont McKenna College, where he has taught American politics for over three decades. With a Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley, Pitney has established himself as a keen observer of electoral dynamics and partisan strategies in the United States. His scholarship bridges academic rigor with accessible prose, making complex political phenomena understandable to a broad audience. In his acclaimed book Defying the Odds: The 2016 Elections and American Politics, Pitney dissects the seismic shifts of the 2016 presidential race, exploring how unconventional campaigns upended traditional political wisdom. A frequent commentator in national media, he continues to illuminate the evolving landscape of American democracy through his incisive analyses and public engagements.