Directly following the 2024 Presidential Election, The Program in American Grand Strategy hosted a faculty panel alongside Dewitt Wallace Center for Media & Democracy, Duke Government Relations, Duke Department of Political Science, and Polis: Center for Politics. The conversation featured faculty members Frank Bruni, Sunshine Hillygus, and Peter Feaver, under the moderation of Polis: Center for Politics Director Abdullah Antepli. The panelists discussed Republican and Democratic campaign strategies, voter trends, outcomes of the next Trump administration, and the need for civil discourse.

Frank Bruni highlighted the failings of Vice President Harris and her campaign, including the inability to separate herself from Biden’s presidency and her late entrance into the race. Bruni was most shocked by her response to a question asking her what she would have done differently in her campaign, stating that “not a thing comes to mind.”

D. Sunshine Hillygus emphasized the economy as shaping the election results over voter blocs, stating that “demography is not destiny.” She also argues that Vice President Harris’ campaign, like Clinton’s, was a mobilization effort when it should have been a persuasive effort: they focused on Trump’s failings instead of her own credibility. Due to this “people plugged their nose and cast a ballot” for Donald Trump.

Peter Feaver brought up several failings of both the Democratic and the Republican party in reference to the election. Like Bruni, he argued that Democrats should have pushed President Biden to step down after the Midterm elections – knowing that he was no longer a favorable candidate. If this had been done, Feaver says, “Kamala would have had more distance [from him]... and been (a) stronger candidate.”

The panel concluded by reiterating the importance of civil discourse, civic engagement, and the resilience of the democratic process.