Countdown to November: Primaries, Policies, and Politics in Real Time

Register for this course on the NYU SPS Academy of Lifelong Learning website.
 
 
The course will follow real-time national, state, and local political developments with a focus on primaries - during the most decisive period of the nominating cycle. Each week, we'll focus on the current state of play and the implications for the fall contests. We'll look at how party rules and the primary calendar will jump-start the general election campaign earlier than in the past. We'll discuss the electoral implications of developing events--front-burner and emerging issues--including the economy, foreign affairs, and the legal cases that will be under way. We'll look at ideological and policy divisions within the major parties and their potential effect on the presidential, Senate and House contests, i.e. the fight for control of these bodies. And we'll look at how third parties could affect outcomes in close contests. We'll explore how demographic trends and key voter groups' engagement may shape the campaigns' targeting decisions for the general election campaign. Week-by-week, we'll review what the polls may be telling us (and not telling us) about the fall. We'll look at key gubernatorial and state legislative elections, and their potential impact on issues such as abortion, climate change, gender equality, reapportionment, and the future of democracy. The course will rely on current media to shape a weekly dialogue on the direction of American politics in this historically critical election. It will be highly participatory, with topical presentations followed by ample time for class discussion.
 
 
Spring 2024 tuition is $495.

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