The 2018 federal election in the United States saw the Democrats take back the House of Representatives from the Republicans, proving to be a key constraint on President Trump’s policy agenda since then. The next federal election is less than six months away and will feature choices for president, one-third of the Senate and all 435 seats in the House of Representatives. What will drive American voter decisions? What would be the legislative priorities of a Democratic Congress and Biden White House? Are there any areas of bipartisanship remaining in this era of pervasive political polarisation?
To discuss these issues, USSC hosted a webinar event featuring Norm Ornstein, a leading political scientist and resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, in conversation with USSC Non-Resident Fellow Bruce Wolpe and USSC CEO Professor Simon Jackman.
Norman Ornstein
Resident Scholar, American Enterprise Institute
Norman Ornstein is a resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute. He is also a contributing editor and columnist for National Journal and The Atlantic and an election analyst for CBS News and BBC News. He is Chairman of the Board of the Campaign Legal Center as well as Vice President of the Matthew Harris Ornstein Memorial Foundation, which was the catalyst for the creation of the recently released film “The Definition of Insanity”. Ornstein led a working group of scholars and practitioners that helped shape the law, known as McCain-Feingold, which reformed the campaign financing system. His many books include Intensive Care: How Congress Shapes Health Policy; The Broken Branch: How Congress Is Failing America and How to Get It Back on Track, with Tom Mann; and The New York Times bestseller, It's Even Worse Than It Looks: How the American Constitutional System Collided With the New Politics of Extremism, also with Tom Mann.
Bruce Wolpe
Non-Resident Senior Fellow, United States Studies Centre
Bruce Wolpe is a Senior Fellow (non-resident) at the United States Studies Centre. Bruce is a regular contributor on US politics across media platforms in Australia. In recent years, Bruce has worked with the Democrats in Congress during President Barack Obama's first term, and on the staff of Prime Minister Julia Gillard. He has also served as the former PM's chief of staff.
Professor Simon Jackman
Professor Simon Jackman was Chief Executive Officer of the United States Studies Centre from April 2016 to May 2022. Between 1996 and 2016, he was a Professor of Political Science and Statistics at Stanford University. Jackman's teaching and research centres on public opinion, election campaigns, political participation, and electoral systems with special emphasis on American and Australian politics.
