Former members of Congress discuss congressional service in the 21st century

November 20, 2024 - Features

by Braiden Bangalan | Discussion Groups Coordinator

Dole Fellows Cheri Bustos (D) and Luke Messer (R) discuss their disagreements and perspectives on the outcome of the 2024 Election during audience Q&A. Photo by Kenna McNally.

Throughout the latter half of the 2024 election season, the Dole Institute’s semester-long Discussion Groups tackled the politics of party machines, competing interest groups, voter engagement, and broader social change at the national and congressional levels. One of two Discussion Group series of this Fall 2024, “Congress in the 21st Century,” featured Dole Fellows and former members of Congress Cheri Bustos (D-IL) and Luke Messer (R-IN). Their series was made possible through the Edward F. Reilly Endowed Fund and a partnership with the Association of the Former Members of Congress.

In this three-program series, former Congressmen Bustos and Messer discussed the inner workings and policymaking on the congressional level in the House and Senate, bipartisanship in action amongst elected officials, the practicalities of raising funds for elections and the campaign trail, power brokers for the upcoming congressional and presidential terms, and the shifting of societal and media landscapes in U.S. politics. This semester’s Discussion Group Coordinators Braiden Bangalan, Ella Rhuems, and Jacob McCarty brainstormed and developed topic and issue areas for each program alongside our Dole Fellows. Bustos and Messer—given their success and experience in campaign fundraising, bipartisan policymaking and collaboration, and state and national party administration—brought their knowledgeable perspectives on national politics to members of our local community and student body, fostering programs replete with personal anecdotes on higher politics and audience engagement throughout each program.

Former members of Congress Cheri Bustos (D) and Luke Messer (R)  address audience questions on bipartisan policymaking on Capitol Hill. Photo by Kenna McNally.

Their first program, held on September 18, featured a conversation to introduce the pair and their background in local news and state party organizations, their elections to Congress, and how bipartisan collaborations and policies manifest in the halls of Capitol Hill. With both members serving during the contentious political environments of the second Obama presidential term and the first term of President-elect Donald Trump, Congressmen Bustos and Messer discussed their experiences in their freshmen term, congressional norms and committees at the Capitol, and the hurdles and party pressures in trying to work with elected colleagues across the aisle.

Their second conversation featured an engaging conversation on the key elements of running a successful campaign: fundraising strategies, personality and honesty with your constituencies, the role and deployment of attack ads, the reliability of polling, and how to engage one’s electoral district given the competing issues of politics at the state-wide and national level. Congresswoman Bustos’ experience as chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) and Congressman Messer’s role as executive director of the Indiana Republican Party provided unique insights into the decision-making involved in campaigns.

Former members of Congress Luke Messer (R) and Cheri Bustos (D) speak with audience members during one of their programs. Photo by Kenna McNally.

Following the 2024 Election, the series concluded with the pair discussing the likely congressional leadership landscape, the resounding success of the GOP at the executive and legislative branches, recommendations on post-election civility and politics at the interpersonal and community levels, and an analysis of the social and political changes across our nation that facilitated a victory for the Republican party.

The “Congress in the 21st Century” series was successful in providing KU students and members of the Lawrence community with perspectives and experiences from former members of Congress during our nation’s latest election season. Moreover, our Discussion Group series provided exclusive access for KU students during post-event dinners for frank conversations and differing perspectives on various social issues facing our country with our two former congressmen. All three programs for this Discussion Group series can be streamed on demand on the Dole Institute’s YouTube channel.

Braiden Bangalan serves as a Discussion Group and Outreach Coordinator at the Dole Institute of Politics, his second year in this position. Braiden works closely with Dole Fellows and colleagues in organizing and planning Discussion Groups series and individual programs. Braiden is a senior studying Political Science, Data Science, and Chinese Language, and he works as a research assistant at KU’s Trade War Lab and Security Studies Fellow for the KU-Ft. Leavenworth Foreign Military Studies office.

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.