On October 6, GW’s Jack Morton Auditorium buzzed with conversation as attendees gathered for “Congress Across the Aisle: A Conversation on Gerrymandering and Primary Reform,” co-sponsored by the GW Graduate School of Political Management (GSPM), Former Members of Congress (FMC), and Unite America.
Panelists examined the state of redistricting across the country, the ways partisan divides undermine effective governance, and the reforms needed to foster fairer, more functional elections.
The lively discussion was moderated by Steve Scully, FMC Senior Fellow, and featured four former members of Congress:
- Senator Doug Jones (D-AL, 2018-2021);
- Rep. Rodney Davis (R-IL, 2013-2023);
- Rep. Kathy Manning (D-NC, 2021-2025); and
- Rep. Garret Graves (R-LA, 2015-2025).
“The Congress Across the Aisle event provided a much-needed bipartisan, bicameral conversation with former members of Congress on many of the root causes of our political polarization, and most importantly, what we can all do about it,” said Dr. Casey Burgat, director of GSPM’s legislative affairs program.
Echoing that sentiment, Dr. Todd Belt, director of GSPM’s Political Management program, called the event an “‘Only at GW’ moment,” highlighting the opportunity for students to hear directly from national leaders and see firsthand how bipartisan collaboration can lead to real solutions—lessons they are sure to carry forward in their own careers.
Couldn’t attend in person? You can watch the full event on C-SPAN and experience this important conversation for yourself.