James A. Thurber is University Distinguished Professor of Government and Founder (1979) and Founder and Former Director (1979-2016) of the Center for Congressional and Presidential Studies and Affiliate Distinguished Professor of Public Administration and Policy at American University, Washington, D.C.

He is author of numerous books and more than eighty articles and chapters on Congress, interest groups and lobbying, and campaigns and elections. His book American Gridlock: The Sources, Character and Impact of Political Polarization (with Antoine Yoshinaka) was published Cambridge University Press in November 2015. He is an author or editor of Rivals for Power: Presidential-Congressional Relations (2013, 5th Ed.), Campaigns and Elections, American Style (with Candice Nelson, 2013, 5th Ed.), Obama in Office (2011), Congress and the Internet (with Colton Campbell, 2002), The Battle for Congress: Consultants, Candidates, and Voters (2001), Crowded Airwaves: Campaign Advertising in Elections (with Nelson and David A. Dulio, 2000),Campaign Warriors: Political Consultants in Elections (2000),Remaking Congress: The Politics of Congressional Stability and Change (with Roger Davidson, 1995), Divided Democracy: Cooperation and Conflict Between Presidents and Congress (1991), and Setting Course: A Congressional Management Guide (with Chaleff, Loomis, Light, and Serota, first three editions starting in 1988, 1990, and 1992).

Dr. Thurber earned a BS in political science from the University of Oregon and Ph.D. in political science from Indiana University and was an American Political Science Association Congressional Fellow in 1973-74.