Jim Twombly

Dr. Jim Twombly is Professor Emeritus of Political Science at Elmira College. He has degrees from Slippery Rock University (BA) and Stony Brook University (MA & PhD). His Ph.D. included specialties in American Politics and Public Policy.

Dr. Twombly’s courses included Congress, The Presidency, Political Parties, State and Local Government, Public Policy, Constitutional Law, and others. His research interests include: behavior of government officials, policy implementation, the presidency, political parties, and political volunteers. He has co-authored articles appearing in the American Political Science Review, American Politics Research, Politics and Policy, and Policy Studies Journal, and a book chapter in Presidential Leadership and Civil Rights Policy. He is the author or co-author of seven books on American politics: The Progression of the American Presidency: Individuals, Empire, and Change (from Palgrave Macmillan) and Political Scandal and American Pop Culture: Sex, Power, and Cover-ups (also from Palgrave Macmillan). He is the co-author of Directing the Whirlwind: The Trump Presidency and the Deconstruction of the Administrative State, co-authored with Lisa Parshall (October 26, 2020). A revised edition, entitled Directing the Whirlwind: Deconstruction, Distrust, and the Future of American Democracy, was published in the Fall of 2022. He is also the co-author (with Robert Irons) of The Preamble as Policy: A Guidebook to Governance and Civic Duty - published August 3, 2021. The second edition of Political Scandal and American Pop Culture: Sex, Power, and Cover-ups was released on August 1, 2024. His most recent work, written with Autumn Walden and Carolyn Phillips, was released May 14, 2026, from Palgrave Macmillan: Secession and Self-determination in the United States: Culture, Conchs, and Pop vs Soda.

Dr. Twombly has run for public office and held a variety of political party offices. Dr. Twombly is a member and Vice President of the New York State Political Science Association in which he served as Chair of the American Politics Section from 2013 through 2016, and served two-terms as Chair of the Social and Behavioral Sciences Division at Elmira College. He served as Co-Program Chair for the NYSPSA 2021 & 2022 Virtual Conferences and the in-person 2024 conference. He served as the Political Analyst for WENY-TV and appeared on many of their news programs (including as featured guest on a weekly segment called “Politics in Two”) as well as being on location for their coverage of the 2008 Democratic National Convention in Denver. He has been interviewed by CNNRadio, The New York Times, The Buffalo News, Roll Call, Newsday, and other news outlets. Dr. Twombly has made numerous appearances before local groups including the Chemung Valley Historical Society, the Rotary Club, The American Association of University Women, and the League of Women Voters.

Jim and his wife, Denise King, live in Slingerlands, NY.