He holds a BA from Pomona College, a JD from Harvard Law School, and a PhD from the University of California at Berkeley. His most recent publication is a volume coedited with Frédérick Douzet and Thad Kousser titled The New Political Geography of California (2008). He has published articles on topics including the initiative process, the recall of California governor Gray Davis, and the federal Voting Rights Act. He has also served as a political analyst in various media outlets, including National Public Radio, BBC World Service Radio, and the Los Angeles Times.