The 2020 presidential election tested the political system and brought American democracy close to the brink. President Donald Trump made continued claims of fraud over mail-in ballots, even during the pandemic, and he encouraged his white nationalist and other supporters to disrupt the voting process. Long after his loss became clear, he and other elected Republican officials refused to accept the results and persisted in making unfounded claims of fraud. How well will the political system respond to these historic challenges? Will it show American democracy to be resilient, or will it deteriorate toward authoritarianism? What will the Biden presidency mean for these trends? And what will this election portend for Congress, the states, the Republican and Democratic parties – and for the future of American politics? The event is co-sponsored by the Einaudi Center and the Institute of Politics and Global Affairs.

Panelists:

Frances Lee - Professor of Politics and Public Affairs, Princeton University

Christopher S. Parker - Stuart A. Scheingold Professor of Social Justice and Political Science, University of Washington

Paul Pierson - John Gross Professor of Political Science, University of California

Robert C. Lieberman (Moderator) - Krieger-Eisenhower Professor of Political Science, Johns Hopkins University