Carville, Matalin and other political insiders discuss 2020 election at Rice’s Baker Institute

Leading academics, political experts and journalists from around the country gathered at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy Dec. 9 to explore the state of the 2020 presidential campaign season and what lies ahead.

The event featured political consultants Mary Matalin (pictured above, middle) and James Carville (left), the honorary directors of the conference, in a luncheon discussion moderated by Karen Johnson Rove (right), a government relations expert. Four panels further explored the political and cultural issues surrounding the 2020 election, including political polarization, waning public confidence in social and political institutions, and the complexities of primaries and caucuses. Former Secretary of State James A. Baker III (pictured below), the honorary chair of the Baker Institute, introduced the luncheon discussion.

The event was hosted by the Baker Institute’s Presidential Elections Program.

(Photos by Jeff Fitlow)