A Presidential Election in an Uncertain Time
As the 2020 election approaches, the nation is deeply polarized. Public distrust in politicians, the media and public institutions continues to grow amid ongoing impeachment proceedings and heightened concerns about America's future.
Against this backdrop, the Presidential Elections Program conference convened academics, political experts and journalists from around the country to explore the state of the 2020 presidential campaign season and the challenges that lie ahead. The event featured a luncheon discussion between the honorary directors of the conference, political consultants Mary Matalin and James Carville, which was moderated by Karen Johnson Rove. Four panels further explored the political and cultural issues surrounding the 2020 election, including political polarization, waning public confidence in social and political institutions, and the complexities of primaries and caucuses.
Watch video of the conference below:
To view the entire conference, please click below:
Panel I
Panel II
Luncheon Armchair
Panel III
Panel IV
Breakfast and Registration
The Honorable Edward P. Djerejian
Director, Baker Institute
Panel I — Rising Polarization
Moderator: The Honorable Edward Martin Emmett, Former Harris County Judge
John D. Arnold
Founder and Co-chair, Arnold Ventures
Stephen Hawkins
Director of Research, More in Common
Jeffrey B. Lewis, Ph.D.
Professor, Department of Political Science, University of California, Los Angeles
Panel II — Trust and Confidence
Moderator: Lisa Falkenberg, Editor of Opinion, Houston Chronicle
Michael Dimock, Ph.D.
President, Pew Research Center
Jennifer L. Merolla, Ph.D.
Professor of Political Science, University of California, Riverside
Daron Shaw, Ph.D.
Professor, Department of Government, The University of Texas at Austin
Lynn Vavreck, Ph.D.
Marvin Hoffenberg Professor of American Politics and Public Policy, University of California, Los Angeles
Luncheon and Discussion with James Carville and Mary Matalin
Introduction: The Honorable James A. Baker, III, Honorary Chair, Baker Institute
Moderator: Karen Johnson Rove, President and Founder, Infrastructure Solutions, Inc.
Panel III — Primaries and Caucuses
Moderator: Mark P. Jones, Ph.D., Fellow in Political Science, Baker Institute
O. Kay Henderson
News Director, Radio Iowa
Neil Levesque
Executive Director, New Hampshire Institute of Politics, Saint Anselm College
Josh Putnam, Ph.D.
Founder and Administrator, FrontloadingHQ
Jon Ralston
Editor, The Nevada Independent
David Woodard, Ph.D.
Thurmond Professor of Political Science, Clemson University
Panel IV — The 2020 Election
Moderator: Jonathan Karl, Chief White House Correspondent, ABC News
John Anzalone
Partner, ALG Research
Jason Johnson
Owner, J2 Strategies
Lisa Lerer
Reporter, The New York Times
Karen Tumulty
Columnist, The Washington Post
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Mon, Dec. 9, 2019
James A. Baker III Hall
Rice University's Baker Institute – 6100 Main St
Doré Commons