Spencer Overton is the Patricia Roberts Harris Research Professor and the founder and faculty director of the Multiracial Democracy Project at GW Law School. He is the author of the book “Stealing Democracy: The New Politics of Voter Suppression” and several law review articles, including “Analyzing the Benefits of AI to Racially Inclusive Democracy,” “Overcoming Racial Harms to Democracy from AI,” “State Power to Regulate Social Media Companies to Prevent Voter Suppression,” and “The Implications of Section 230 for Black Communities.”

Professor Overton served in senior democracy policy positions on the 2008 Obama presidential campaign, transition team, and in the Obama Administration. He also served for nine years as president of and rebuilt the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies—America’s Black think tank. His work on national election reform commissions resulted in Iowa restoring voting rights to over 80,000 returning citizens and Democrats moving diverse states like South Carolina and Nevada to the beginning of their presidential primary process. Overton practiced law at Debevoise & Plimpton, clerked for U.S. Court of Appeals Judge Damon Keith, and graduated with honors from both Hampton University and Harvard Law School.