Midterm elections and the future of Congress and the presidency

Midterm elections are typically losing propositions for the party in power, and if polls are to be believed, this year will be no different.

The Supreme Court’s precedent-busting decision in Louisiana v. Callais had a major impact on the Voting Rights Act, triggering lawsuits and mid-decade redistricting in more than a dozen states. These new congressional maps will play a pivotal role in the forthcoming elections. In addition, only a fraction of House seats are considered competitive, suggesting that relatively few states play a consequential role. Nevertheless, the stakes are high and a change in the balance of power can have profound consequences for the President Trump administration.

On October 19, the Center for Effective Public Management at Brookings will host a panel of experts to discuss potential election outcomes, the role of public opinion, the impact of mid-decade redistricting, and the consequences of new majorities in the House and Senate.

Online viewers can submit questions by emailing events@brookings.edu.

Agenda

Panel discussion

• Erin Covey, Editor, U.S. House of Representatives – The Cook Political Report
• William A. Galston, Senior Fellow – Governance Studies, Center for Effective Public Management (CEPM), Ezra K. Zilkha Chair in Governance Studies
• Christopher S. Warshaw, Professor, McCourt School of Public Policy – Georgetown University

Moderator

• Kathryn Dunn Tenpas, Director – The Initiative on Improving Interbranch Relations and Government, Visiting Fellow – Governance Studies, Center for Effective Public Management (CEPM)