Larry Gerston

Larry N. Gerston is an American political scientist, author, and media analyst. He is professor emeritus of Political Science at San José State University and is known for his expertise in American politics, public policy, and civic engagement. Gerston has authored over a dozen books on politics and policy, appears regularly as a political analyst on television and radio, and has written extensively for newspapers and magazines.

Increasingly, his work has centered on the importance of citizen participation as vital to preserving American democracy.

He serves as a political analyst for NBC Bay Area television, KCBS radio, NBC Nightly News, CBS Evening News, BBC, CNN, MSNBC, C-SPAN, and NPR.

Education Gerston received his Ph.D. (1975) and M.A. (1970) in Political Science from the University of California, Davis, and his A.B. from the University of California, Berkeley.

Academic career Gerston joined the faculty of San José State University in 1974, where he taught courses in American government, public policy, and political participation until his retirement as professor emeritus of Political Science. Although he retired from San Jose State in 2014, he continues to write and teach.

Gerston has written more than 150 op-ed articles for newspapers, addressing issues ranging from local government reform to national democratic challenges. and other leading publications.

Scholarly works Gerston is the author of fifteen academic books on American politics and public policy. His forthcoming work, Overcoming Trumpism: How to Save American Democracy (Bloomsbury, expected March 2026), explains the origins and damage of Trumpism and proposes strategies for counteracting authoritarian populism to restore democratic institutions.

His recent publications include Trumpism, Bigotry, and the Threat to American Democracy (Lexington Books, 2023), California’s Recall Election of Gavin Newsom: The Politics of Political Reform in the Era of COVID (with Mary Currin-Percival and Garrick Percival, Taylor & Francis, 2022), and the third edition of Public Policy Making in a Democratic Society: A Guide to Civic Engagement (Taylor & Francis, 2022).

Gerston's applied research includes co-authoring the monograph Terrorism III: Assisting Public Transportation Operators in Responding to Chemical and Biological Threats (with Brian Michael Jenkins, Mineta Institute, 2001) and serving as principal writer of the Report of the 2002 Silicon Valley Blue Ribbon Task Force on Aviation Security and Technology.

Along with his scholarly publications, Gerston has written more than 150 op-ed columns for major newspapers, including The Philadelphia Inquirer , San Francisco Chronicle , Sacramento Bee , and San Jose Mercury News. His commentaries address a wide range of issues, including presidential elections, state politics, public policy reform, and contemporary threats to American democracy.

Other works In addition to his academic and political writing, Gerston is a children's book author. His works include The Road to Hana (2016), which emphasizes the value of the journey over the destination; His children's books have received several honors, including recognition as a finalist for the National Indie Excellence Award in 2019 and second place at the Pacific Rim Book Festival in 2016.

Views and opinions Gerston has been a vocal critic of Donald Trump, particularly regarding what he describes as Trump's “authoritarian tendencies” and “erosion of democratic norms.” In Trumpism, Bigotry, and the Threat to American Democracy (2023), he argues that Trump's presidency normalized misinformation, intolerance, and attacks on government institutions, presenting a profound threat to American democracy. He contends that Trump's rhetoric and policies have exacerbated social divisions and undermined public confidence in electoral integrity. Racism, religious intolerance, and misogyny are among the tools that have been employed used by Trump to divide American society.

Gerston has frequently commented on California and national politics, often emphasizing the challenges of governance in polarized environments. He has argued that increasing partisanship both in California and across the United States undermines the ability of elected officials to address pressing issues such as budget crises, immigration, climate change infrastructure needs, and social inequality.

Selected publications

Academic books

Non-Academic Books

Book Chapters

Articles

Personal life Gerston is married to Elisa Wolf Gerston. They have three children and six grandchildren.