US Election: Info and Discussion Event with Students
On the evening of the U.S. election, we invited students to an information and discussion evening titled “America Votes: The 2024 Presidential Election in Focus.” The event was organized by the FSI Politics, Dr. Simon Primus from the Chair of Comparative Political Science, and Dr. Kristina Maul, an American Studies specialist and head of the FAU’s English Language Center.
Two short talks provided aome insights. Dr. Simon Primus posed the question “The Death of the Rational Voter?” and argued that, due to increasing affective polarization, voting behavior in the USA has depended less on objective outcomes in recent decades. In addition, Primus examined the candidates’ economic competency ratings and the mobilization potential of Trump’s economic agenda within certain demographic groups. Dr. Kristina Maul gave an overview of the most important races in key swing states and the possible paths to victory for both sides. Her talk illustrated both the strengthening of the Republicans in industrially shaped states in the Northeast and the increasing competitiveness of races in formerly reliably Republican southern states like Georgia and Arizona. Afterward, there was a lively exchange with about 70 students, followed by a watch party of the first hours of the election night on American television.