Alex Keena, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Political Science at VCU who researches political representation.

He is co-author of "Gerrymandering the States: Partisanship, Race, and the Transformation of American Federalism" (Cambridge University Press, 2021) and "Gerrymandering in America: The House of Representatives, the Supreme Court, and the Future of Popular Sovereignty" (Cambridge University Press, 2016), and many articles on redistricting, money in politics, and the US Congress.

Alex graduated from J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College in 2008. He completed his B.A. in political science and anthropology at Loyola University Chicago in 2011, and received his Ph.D. in political science at the University of California, Irvine in 2016.

Before joining VCU, he was a visiting professor at the University of North Florida and at the University of Richmond.

In addition to his teaching and scholarship, Dr. Keena enjoys playing music.

Select Publications

Books:

Alex Keena, Michael Latner, Anthony J. McGann, and Charles Anthony Smith. 2021. Gerrymandering the States: Partisanship, Race, and the Transformation of American Federalism. Cambridge University Press.

McGann, Anthony J., Charles Anthony Smith, Michael Latner and Alex Keena. 2016. Gerrymandering in America: The House of Representatives, the Supreme Court, and the Future of Popular Sovereignty. Cambridge University Press.

Peer-Reviewed Articles (selected):

Keena, Alex. 2024. Out-Of-State Donors and Legislative Surrogacy in the U.S. Senate. Political Research Quarterly. doi: 10.1177/10659129241249171

Wintersieck, A., & Keena, A. 2023. Ask and You Shall Receive: The Effects of Negativity and Fundraising Appeals on Facebook. Political Research Quarterly. doi: 10.1177/10659129231186414

Keena, Alex. 2019. Who Needs the Wealthy? The Effects of Size Scaling on Money in Senate Elections. Congress & the Presidency 46(2): 235-252. doi: 10.1080/07343469.2019.1572673

Keena, Alex and Misty Knight-Finley. 2019. Are Small Donors Polarizing? A Longitudinal
Study of the Senate. Election Law Journal 18(2): 132-144. doi: 10.1089/elj.2018.0498

Keena, Alex and Misty Knight-Finley. 2018. Governed by Experience: Political Careers and Party Loyalty in the Senate. Congress & the Presidency 45(1): 20-40. doi: 10.1080/07343469.2017.1401019