Beyond the Ballot: A recap of Jonathan Shorman’s discussion groups series

December 1, 2024 - Features

by Ella Rhuems | Discussion Groups Coordinator

 

Two men and a woman sit in high chairs in a large room while members of an audience look on. Two televisions flank them.


Kansas City Star Washington correspondent Daniel Desrochers speaks about the Kansas election landscape. Photo by Kenna McNally.

 

 

Ahead of the 2024 Election, Dole Fellow and Kansas City Star lead political correspondent Jonathan Shorman moderated our fall Discussion Groups series, “Beyond the Ballot,” which looked at the ever-changing political landscape in Kansas and gave audience members critical insight into the issues at stake this election.

In his first program on September 25, Shorman welcomed Dr. Alexandra Middlewood, chair of Wichita State University Political Science, and Daniel Desrochers, Washington correspondent for the Star, for a general overview of the Kansas election landscape. Middlewood provided context to voter motivations through polling conducted by the Docking Institute at WSU, and Desrochers provided unique perspectives on congressional races throughout the state.

 

Two men in suits and a woman in a dress and blazer sit in high chairs in a large room. Televisions flank them and members of an audience are in the foreground.


Natalie Andrews of the Wall Street Journal and KSU associate professor Nathaniel Birkhead speak about the key congressional races in Kansas. Photo by Kenna McNally.

 

His second program on October 9 featured Dr. Russell Fox of Friends University Department of Political Science and former Kansas Legislator Stephanie Sharp. Both spoke about the changing dynamics with ticket-splitting voters—voters who split their votes between both major parties. Dr. Fox had informative remarks on what types of voters often resort to ticket-splitting, while Sharp was able to draw from her personal experiences of working with potential ticket-splitters.

His final program on October 23 highlighted key congressional races in Kansas, particularly in the 2nd and 3rd districts. This conversation featured Natalie Andrews, campaign correspondent for the Wall Street Journal, and Nathaniel Birkhead, an associate professor at Kansas State University. Both panelists provided insight on the upcoming congressional elections in these two competitive districts, and how Congress would take shape following the election.

 

A man in a charcoal suit and light tie speaks and gestures while two other men and a woman look on at him.


Eric Pahls, vice president of Big Dog Strategies and a member of the Dole Institute Board of Advisors, speaks at the Kansas Post Election Conference. Photo by Kenna McNally.

 

Shorman returned on November 20 to moderate the Kansas Panel of the Post-Election Conference. This panel featured Eric Pahls, vice president of Big Dog Strategies and a member of the Dole Institute Board of Advisors; Lisa Rodriguez, news director for KCUR—the Kansas City NPR affiliate; and Cole Robinson, executive director of the Johnson County Democratic Party. Held biennially after midterm and general elections, the Post Election Conference brings journalists, practitioners, and advisors together to analyze campaigns and election results in Kansas and beyond. Their discussions provided unique perspectives on the outcomes of the state legislature races and congressional races, including the dynamics surrounding policy and lobbying, news and journalism, and campaign execution.

Shorman’s full Discussion Groups series can be streamed on the Dole Institute’s YouTube channel.

 

 

Ella Rhuems serves as a Discussion Group Coordinator at the Dole Institute. In this role, Ella works closely with Dole Fellows on Discussion Groups programming and assists in event planning. She is a junior studying political science, psychology and dance, and works for The Center for Undergraduate Research and Fellowships as a research assistant and peer mentor. Additionally, Ella is a member of Delta Delta Delta, and the University Honors program.

About the Dole Institute
The Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics, a vibrant forum for civil discourse, civic engagement, and idea exchange across the political spectrum, features historical archives, exhibits, and public programs for all ages. Inspired by the public service of native Kansan, veteran, legislator, and statesman Senator Bob Dole and his wife Senator Elizabeth Dole, visitor galleries feature changing exhibits, the Kansas Veterans Virtual Memory Wall, architectural-scale stained glass American flag, and September 11 memorial.

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