As the host to the Vice Presidential Debate 2020 on Oct. 7, 2020, the University of Utah’s staff and faculty have been hard at work finding ways to incorporate the debate into fall programming. From focusing multiple class sessions on the debate and election to covering it as part of existing course topics, professors from architecture to political science are up to the challenge. Click here to view what academic courses are doing to include the debate.
If you’re not a student, or you are but your classes aren’t covering the debate, no problem. As part of its acclaimed Hinckley Forums series, the Hinckley Institute of Politics is hosting multiple virtual forums on the 2020 elections, which are free and open to anyone interested. Below are the forums that cover topics specific to the elections.
The Presidency
Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2020 | 12-1 p.m.
Since the nation’s founding, the role and power the president has—and ought to have—has been hotly debated. Join our panel as they examine the history of the executive in the United States, how the position has expanded over time and what future presidential administrations may look like.
Panel
- Jim Curry, associate professor, University of Utah Department of Political Science
- Eric Hinderaker, distinguished professor, University of Utah Department of History
- Josh Ryan, associate professor, Utah State University Political Science Department
- Cody Stephens, visiting assistant professor, University of Utah Department of History
- Jennifer Napier-Pearce, former editor, The Salt Lake Tribune
This is a virtual event. To have a calendar invite sent to your email, click here.
The Hinckley Institute neither supports nor opposes the views expressed in this forum.
Cosponsored by the U’s Department of Political Science.
Informed Decisions 2020: Candidate Conversations—The Governor's Race
Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2020 | 12-1 p.m.
Each major election year, the Hinckley Institute of Politics and the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute collaborate on Informed Decisions: An effort to educate Utah voters on critical policy issues and to better acquaint them with competitive candidates from key races throughout the state. This year, we will host three Candidate Conversations meeting with the major-party nominees for governor, Utah’s Second Congressional District and Utah’s Fourth Congressional District. Invited candidates will join Hinckley Institute Director Jason Perry for a 30-minute, one-on-one conversation examining the policy issues outlined in the Informed Decisions 2020 Election Brief as well as other key campaign initiatives.
Panel
- Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox, the Republican nominee
- Chris Peterson, University of Utah law professor, the Democratic nominee
- Jason Perry, director, Hinckley Institute of Politics (moderator)
This is a virtual event. To have a calendar invite sent to your email, click here.
The Hinckley Institute neither supports nor opposes the views expressed in this forum.
Cosponsored by the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute and the University of Utah Office of Alumni Relations.
Security & Voting Rights in the 2020 Election
Monday, Sept. 28, 2020 | 12-1 p.m.
Join us for a conversation with the state's election experts. We will examine COVID-19's potential impact on election administration, Utah’s implementation of vote by mail, and what officials are doing to keep our elections safe, accessible and fair for all.
Panel
- Ricky Hatch, Weber County Clerk/Auditor
- Amelia Powers Gardner, Utah County Clerk/Auditor
- Justin Lee, State Elections Director
- Sherrie Swensen, Salt Lake County Clerk
- Frank Pignanelli, partner, Foxley & Pignanelli (moderator)
This is a virtual event. To have a calendar invite sent to your email, click here.
The Hinckley Institute neither supports nor opposes the views expressed in this forum.
Cosponsored by the University of Utah Alumni Association and the Department of Political Science.
Judges on the Ballot: Casting Informed Votes in Retention Elections
Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020 | 12-1 p.m.
Utah’s distinctive, merit-based process to select, evaluate, and retain its judges gives voters an important voice at every general election. How well do you know your judges? Come and learn how you can cast an informed vote on judges this November.
Panel
- Kim Cordova, executive director, Commission on Criminal and Juvenile Justice
- Christine Durham, retired chief justice, Utah Supreme Court
- Gil Miller, chairperson, Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission; managing partner, Rocky Mountain Advisory
- Jennifer Yim, executive director, Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission
- Ron Gordon, general counsel, Governor's Office (moderator)
This is a virtual event. To have a calendar invite sent to your email, click here.
The Hinckley Institute neither supports nor opposes the views expressed in this forum.
Cosponsored by the Utah Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission.
Informed Decisions 2020: Utah's Housing Shortage, Rising Prices, and the Impact of COVID-19
Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2020 | 12-1 p.m.
Since the Great Recession, Utah has been the fastest-growing state in the country. Over the last decade, however, the supply of new housing units in the state has fallen far short of the number needed to meet the demand of newly formed households. How should this imbalance be interpreted, where are the thousands of surplus households living and what are the potential impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the housing shortage and already-rising home prices? The Informed Decisions 2020 Election Brief and policy forums will examine three key policy challenges in the state: education funding, housing and economic recovery. This year, we are thrilled to welcome the University of Utah Alumni Association as a partner to help engage the public on these critical issues. Join panelists as they discuss what voters and candidates need to know to make informed decisions this election year.
Panel
- Mike Gallegos, director, Salt Lake County Housing and Urban Development
- Jonathan Hardy, director, Utah Housing and Urban Development
- Jim Wood, Ivory-Boyer senior fellow, Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute
- Natalie Gochnour, director, Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute (moderator)
This is a virtual event. To have a calendar invite sent to your email, click here.
The Hinckley Institute neither supports nor opposes the views expressed in this forum.
Cosponsored by the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute and the University of Utah Office of Alumni Relations.
Informed Decisions 2020: COVID-19 and the Utah Economy
Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2020 | 12-1 p.m.
Nearly every facet of Utahns’ economic life, like that of others around the globe, has been upended and altered by the COVID-19 pandemic. Utahns feel the sting of lost jobs and income, insecurity about their economic future and uncertainty about potential long-term changes impacting the economy. So what do voters and candidates need to know to make informed decisions this election year? The Informed Decisions 2020 Election Brief and policy forums will examine three key policy challenges in the state: education funding, housing, and economic recovery. This year, we are thrilled to welcome the University of Utah Alumni Association as a partner to help engage the public on these critical issues. Join panelists as they discuss four major economic insights about COVID-19 and what they mean for the Utah economy.
This is a virtual event. To have a calendar invite sent to your email, click here.
The Hinckley Institute neither supports nor opposes the views expressed in this forum.
Cosponsored by the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute and the University of Utah Office of Alumni Relations.