Previewing the 2024 Presidential Election

The 2024 presidential election promises to deliver unexpected twists and turns. At this year’s annual conference from the Baker Institute Presidential Elections Program on Dec. 1, the institute hosted political experts from around the country to explore the state of the 2024 presidential campaign season and the challenges that lie ahead for candidates.

This event was free and open to the public.

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Agenda

Please scroll for descriptions of the conference panels.

8:55 am	Welcome Remarks Donald Bowers Board Member, Baker Institute; Vice-President, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, Houston Branch
9:00 am	Panel I — A Presidential Election With Legal Issues Like No Other Moderated by: Mark K. Updegrove, Presidential Historian, ABC News; President and CEO, LBJ Foundation Richard L. Hasen Professor of Law and Political Science, University of California, Los Angeles; Director, Safeguarding Democracy Project Joshua Sellers Professor of Law, The University of Texas at Austin
10:15 am	Break
10:30 am	Panel II — Dissatisfaction With the Two-Party System Moderated by: Lisa Falkenberg, Vice President and Editor of Opinion, Houston Chronicle Mark P. Jones Fellow in Political Science, Joseph D. Jamail Chair in Latin American Studies The Honorable Pat McCrory Former Governor of North Carolina; National Co-Chair, No Labels The Honorable Jay Nixon Former Governor of Missouri; Ballot Integrity Project Director, No Labels
11:45 am	Lunch
12:15 pm	Lunch Conversation Moderated by: Major Garrett, Chief Washington Correspondent, CBS News Mark McKinnon Political advisor; Co-host, The Circus: Inside the Greatest Political Show on Earth, Showtime Jennifer Palmieri Political and communications strategist; Co-host, The Circus: Inside the Greatest Political Show on Earth, Showtime
1:15 pm	Break
1:30 pm	Panel III — A View From the Campaign Bus Moderated by: Julie Mason, Host, “Julie Mason Mornings,” SiriusXM Galen Bacharier Politics Reporter, Des Moines Register Marianne LeVine National Political Reporter, The Washington Post Alex Thompson National Political Correspondent, Axios
2:45 pm	Break
3:00 pm	Panel IV — Looking Forward to the 2024 Election Moderated by: Lisa Lerer, National Political Correspondent, The New York Times Dave Carney President and CEO, Norway Hill Associates, Inc. Nathan L. Gonzales Editor & Publisher, Inside Elections Rebecca Pearcey Partner, Political Communications, Bryson Gillette Amy Walter Publisher & Editor-in-Chief, Cook Political Report
4:00 pm	Closing Remarks John Williams Fellow, Presidential Elections Program
4:15 pm	Adjourn

Panel Descriptions

Panel I — A Presidential Election With Legal Issues Like No Other

Experts will discuss the historical, political, and legal importance of indictment and criminal investigation — and how they might affect the 2024 presidential election.

Panel II — Dissatisfaction With the Two-Party System

As the partisan divide widens between the Democratic and Republican parties, polling indicates voters are evenly split on voting for a third-party candidate — with half saying they would consider voting for a third-party presidential candidate in 2024. Panelists will review polling data related to a third-party bid, followed by a moderated discussion with two No Labels leaders.

Panel III — A View From the Campaign Bus

Prominent reporters on the campaign trail will discuss the inner workings of the 2024 presidential campaigns to date, examining the debates, campaign finances, polling, and political strategy.

Panel IV — Looking Forward to the 2024 Election

Ahead of what promises to be a dynamic presidential campaign season, political consultants and journalists discuss how they see the 2024 presidential election unfolding in today's political landscape.