Policy, Politics and the 2020 Elections: What 2020 Means for Future Campaigns and Elections

This course looks back at the 2020 election campaign and tries to discern lessons and takeaways for future campaigns and elections. It will provide students with a behind-the-scenes understanding of how campaigns work. Each week, we will explore a different topic related to high-profile campaigns -- policy formation, communications, grassroots strategy, digital outreach, campaign finance -- and feature prominent guest speakers who have served and will serve in senior roles on both Democratic and Republican campaigns, including the Trump and Biden teams. Elements used in grading: Attendance, Final Paper. Cross-listed with Communication (COMM 153A, 253A), Political Science (POLISCI 72), and Public Policy (PUBLPOL 146, 246).