Eastern Connecticut State University hosted a “Post-Election Reflections” panel on Nov. 13. The discussion was moderated by history Professor Tom Balcerski and political science Professor Nicole Krassas. The panelists shared their perspectives on the 2024 election results, discussed key issues and explored what might come next.

The discussion focused on a social science and history context. Krassas started by explaining the election outcomes and voter turnouts. She said Connecticut's voter turnout was about 65% in this election, compared to 70% in 2020. Meanwhile, national voter turnout was approximately 63.5% among the voting-eligible population, down from 66% in 2020. 

Krassas continued by highlighting some challenges in the current political climate. “Trust and approval of political institutions is at an all-time low,” said Krassas. Trust in democratic institutions and media has also declined, she said, complicating governance and voter engagement. Research shown by Krassas reflects that public trust in government has been declining since the 1960s, exacerbated by economic downturns, political scandals and wars.  

Krassas also pointed out how media trust has eroded, with only 31% of Americans expressing confidence in the press. This skepticism has been amplified by the rise of social media, which has become a powerful but often unreliable source of information. 

Krassas explained the significance of this decline in trust. “The media plays a big role in democracy; we don’t have a lot of means to learn about the candidates without the media,” she said.  

Vice President Kamala Harris’s campaign reignited discussions about gender and racial bias in politics, as studies consistently show that women and candidates of color face greater scrutiny and higher barriers to being perceived as qualified. “Political psychology research about gender bias bleeds over into race; candidates of color have to be more cautious on how they present themselves,” said Krassas.  

Balcerski shared information from a historical perspective, noting that the 2024 election featured parallels to past contests. He discussed vice presidents, who historically struggle to be elected to the presidency. Known as the "Van Buren Curse," this phenomenon has seen vice presidents fail in their bids for the top office, with notable exceptions like George H. W. Bush.  

Another historical resonance was President Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the race in mid-2024. Biden’s withdrawal drew comparisons to Lyndon Johnson’s 1968 announcement, which similarly reshaped the political landscape. Both decisions underscored the challenges of maintaining party unity and transitioning leadership during contentious times. 

Additionally, the evolving norms around concession speeches and transitions of power raised questions about institutional respect. Balcerski explained that as modern communications increased, the public and candidates expected the transfer of power to begin with the concession speech. For example, in the 2004 election, President Bush waited until he had received the concession from Senator Kerry to give his victory speech. While Trump’s victory speech came before Harris conceded, it revived debates about decorum and the peaceful transfer of power.