A panel sponsored by the Civic Leaders Center centered on recent results and potential outcomes of the current presidential election.
SPEA professor Les Lenkowsky moderated the panel of Indiana Democratic Party chair John Zody, SPEA adjunct instructor Jill Long Thompson and Congressman Lee Hamilton.
The panel talked about the unpredictability of politics and how a lot has changed since the beginning of the election.
Thompson said she has never seen an election year like this one. She said the Democratic primary is unique because of the difference between a well-known candidate, Hillary Clinton, and a lesser-known candidate, Bernie Sanders.
Clinton is breaking new ground as a woman, which is also shaping the election, Thompson said.
“It’s unique,” Thompson said. “It’s real.”
On the Republican side, Lenkowsky said the primary will be very competitive since the candidates’ standings have changed even between the Iowa Caucus and the New Hampshire primary.
Zody said the unpredictability of this election keeps people on their toes. Hamilton said that’s what makes politics interesting.
“There are no experts in politics,” Hamilton said. “We think we’re experts, but there aren’t any.”
Although the election is unpredictable now, Hamilton said he would be surprised if the candidates were not chosen before the conventions.
Part of the panel’s discussion was about the influence of young people in this election.
Youth have had a distinct effect on this election, especially in the Democratic primary, Hamilton said.
Hamilton said these young people are shaped by recent wars, the economy and the diversity of the country’s culture.
“It’s a different element in our politics today, which has made for more uncertainty probably,” he added.
For example, Lenkowsky shared a study from Circle, a civic engagement organization, that compared the Iowa voting map with the Iowa student map. The study showed that Sanders won the counties with Iowa State University, University of Iowa and Northeast Iowa Community College, among others.
“Clearly the youth vote is showing up, and it will be interesting as we move south,” Lenkowsky said.
The panel also discussed the growing differences among the political parties and how it is affecting the election.
The center of gravity is shifting in both parties, Hamilton said.
Students raised questions about how this growing division will change in the coming years.
Thompson said she was optimistic, stating she has seen this happen before and the parties will come together again.
Society is not moving in an organizational way anymore, Zody said. Young people get involved because of specific issues, not necessarily because of a party.
“Young people are not necessarily joiners anymore,” he said.
At the end of the forum, Hamilton said it is important to remind representatives the only way to move a country this large and diverse forward is to negotiate and compromise.
“Their job, at the end of the day, is to make this country work,” Hamilton said.
Sophomore Kieran Hatton said he agreed. He said the forum showed a variety of views, but the groups could still find common ground.
“There is room for everyone to get along,” Hatton said.
