Legislative Affairs Forum

2016 Election Recap 

How will the outcome of the election impact us
as individuals and businesses?

Matt Streb, Professor in the Department of Political Science, will dissect the voting process, poll results, and how voters had a direct impact on who won this election. 

Following Matt we have Kerry Lester, Columnist & Senior Writer for the Daily Herald, who will dive into this year's election results and how our economy will be effected. 


Matthew Streb is a Professor in the Department of Political Science. His research examines voter decision making in low-information elections, specifically nonpartisan elections and judicial elections; questions related to electoral democracy; and polling. His research has been featured on C-Span’s Washington Journal, and has been mentioned in such places as The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, Washington Times, Washington Monthly, and Chronicle of Higher Education. He is the editor of the book series "Controversies in Electoral Democracy and Representation."  Matt is frequently quoted in national, state, and local media on elections and is a weekly guest on Straight Talk with Riley O'Neal (WROK, Rockford).  In 2009, he was recognized by the NIU Foundation for "Faculty Excellence."  Matt teaches courses on political parties, political behavior, public opinion, and Congress. Streb received his Ph.D. in 2000 from Indiana University.



Kerry Lester is a columnist and senior writer who focuses on the people who make the suburbs unique. Lester, formerly the Daily Herald's political editor, returned to the paper in 2015 after several years with the Associated Press. In her years as a reporter, Lester has netted a number of statewide and national scoops, including the first sit-down interview with U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk following his 2012 stroke, one-on-one interviews with presidential candidates, and breakthrough reports on the state budget crisis and power struggle in Illinois' newly divided government.