On Nov. 14, Common Ground hosted a post-election debrief in the Chapel featuring speakers Robert Doar and Michael Capuano, moderated by Mimi Geerges. The discussion focused on the shortcomings of Harris and Trump’s respective campaigns, notable demographic shifts, potential party realignment and ways in which President-elect Donald Trump may govern.
The three participants brought significant political experience to the conversation. Robert Doar serves as president of the American Enterprise Institute, one of the nation’s oldest and foremost public policy think tanks. Before his position at AEI, Doar worked for more than 20 years in New York State and New York City social service programs. Michael Capuano, the evening’s other speaker, served as the U.S. Representative for Massachusetts’ 7th Congressional District from 1999 to 2019. During his tenure, Capuano was a senior member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, the Financial Services Committee and chaired the Special Task Force on Ethics Enforcement. He now works as a Senior Policy Advisor at Venable LLP. Mimi Geerges is the host of “The Mimi Geerges Show” on PBS and a guest host of “Washington Journal” on C-SPAN.
The event began with an analysis of Kamala Harris’ loss. Both Doar and Capuano agreed that the economy was the primary factor drawing Trump voters. They also noted that Harris’ campaign faced challenges due to her late entry and declining public perception of President Biden and his administration.
Doar and Capuano also delved into voter demographics, including the minority vote, socioeconomic class distribution and educational divides. Capuano argued that Democrats have allowed themselves to be portrayed as the party of elites, with insufficient focus on working-class voters. He highlighted the lack of economic policy in favor of prioritizing issues such as abortion and democracy. Doar pointed to Trump’s appeal as a “strong man” and his support for traditional masculinity as key factors in his minority voter support.
Doar suggested that most voting Americans do not view President-elect Trump as a threat to democracy or are willing to take the risk. He expressed confidence in existing political safeguards, including the option to impeach if necessary.
The discussion also addressed what Americans might expect from Trump’s next term, including topics like Project 2025, the Russo-Ukraine War and Gaza. Both Doar and Capuano raised concerns about Trump’s approach to the Russo-Ukraine War and the message his actions might send to global leaders like Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping. They also expressed apprehension regarding Trump’s nominations, with Doar optimistic that a Republican-controlled Congress would scrutinize them closely.
The conversation concluded with a Q&A session, where audience members asked questions on topics ranging from the conflict in Palestine to the challenges of the two-party system in the U.S. Both speakers closed with advice for those unsettled by the election results: Capuano urged Democrats to remain vigilant and proactive, while Doar emphasized focusing on action rather than anger. He reassured attendees of the country’s resilience, encouraging pride in its history of overcoming challenges.
This discussion was part of the Common Ground series, which organizes events to explore diverse topics from national and global perspectives, aiming to foster critical thinking and meaningful dialogue on essential issues. Their next event is a Survey Table on Dec. 9; results will be used in a debate next semester.