On Monday, June 1st, 2020, USCET launched its first Live from Washington online series focused on the 2020 US Presidential and Congressional Elections. USCET has organized election programs since 2000, and in this critical presidential race, the program has gone virtual.
The inaugural session, Demystifying US Elections in the Time of COVID-19, featured Dr. James Thurber of American University and Dr. Stephen Wayne of Georgetown University, both prominent experts in the field of US electoral politics. An engaged audience of over 130 people tuned in from China, the US, and Europe. The speakers provided highlights of the 2020 Presidential electoral campaign thus far and offered a roadmap of what to watch out for on the way to the general election in November. The speakers also explored the significant ways in which the COVID-19 pandemic is reshaping the 2020 elections and gave timely insights into how the racial tensions that have swept across the US will influence voter turnout.
Both speakers spoke to the polarization of American society and public opinion, and much more. Dr. Thurber further characterized the political context of the 2020 election as “very unique in American history.” The speakers explained that while many Americans hope for a change of leadership, the chances of presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden winning the 2020 elections against President Trump still remains uncertain. Watch the event recap video for details.
The 2020 presidential election is critical, as the outcome will not only affect Americans, but also the future of geopolitics, US-China relations, and millions of lives across the world. With the ongoing pandemic, rising racial tensions, and growing political polarization, Americans are grappling with the uncertainties and anxieties of the country’s future, as these issues will play a major role in determining who will be the next president of the United States.
Download event resources including PowerPoints, PDFs, and more here (微云) or here (Google Drive).
Watch the event recording on YouTube below or by clicking here.