The 2016 election cycle has been one of the most confounding and vitriolic campaign seasons in U.S. history. Bitter divides have formed in both the Republican and Democratic parties. Hillary Clinton made history, as the first American woman to secure the nomination from a major political party. And—perhaps the biggest surprise of all—Donald Trump emerged as the GOP front-runner. What does this climate of instability and change tell us about our country? What are the political and social consequences of these shifts? This event’s panel, composed of distinguished political scholars, authors, and experts, will provide context for how we’ve arrived at this moment and offer their predictions about the outcomes of the upcoming election. Co-hosted by the UW Alumni Association

Panelists:
Christopher Sebastian Parker, Ph.D., professor of political science, University of Washington
Mark A. Smith, Ph.D., professor of political science, University of Washington
Margaret O’Mara, Ph.D., associate professor of history, University of Washington
Rick Shenkman, author and expert on national politics