Do Good Conversations, September 22, 2026 - Charles Hunt

Congress, political parties, and elections can seem complicated from the outside. But how did we get here, and what does it actually take to become a candidate? We recently spoke with Charles Hunt, an Associate Professor of Political Science at Boise State University. Hunt earned his Ph.D. in Government and Politics from the University of Maryland, and his research focuses on Congress, congressional elections, representation, and political candidates. He’s also the author of Home Field Advantage, which examines the role a candidate’s local roots can play in congressional elections. In our conversation, we covered the history of how we became Democrat vs. Republican, dabbled into how Congress and congressional campaigns work, and what it takes for people without political experience, but may be just as qualified, to run for office.