Zach Baum is a PhD student in the Department of Political Science at Rutgers–New Brunswick. His research focuses on political representation, LGBTQ+ politics, intersectionality, candidate emergence, and the role of artificial intelligence in democratic processes. Drawing on quantitative methods, experimental research, and political behavior scholarship, his work examines how marginalized candidates are evaluated within electoral institutions and emerging technological systems. Baum’s broader interests include state legislatures, campaign finance, descriptive representation, and political communication. He also studies how generative AI systems reproduce political heuristics and leadership norms across candidate evaluation contexts.

From Casework to Chatbots: The Integration of AI in Legislative Offices and Its Implications for Constituent Representation

This project examines how artificial intelligence is changing the way elected officials interact with the public. Legislative offices are increasingly using AI tools to answer emails, manage casework, and handle large amounts of constituent communication, but little is known about how these systems affect representation and public service. The study combines surveys, interviews, and experimental methods to evaluate whether AI improves responsiveness or unintentionally reinforces inequalities in how constituents are treated. By focusing on everyday interactions between citizens and government offices, the project explores how new technologies may reshape democratic accountability, fairness, and access to elected representatives in the digital age.