A Look Ahead at US Politics in 2026 With Karl Rove

Описание: Mar. 02, 2026

The United States experienced a significant political and social change in 2025. From large-scale immigration raids to the longest government shutdown in U.S. history, the past year was marked by conflict and political upheaval that reshaped the nation’s political landscape. What do these shifts mean for American politics as the country approaches the 2026 midterm elections?

In conversation with Ambassador David M. Satterfield, Karl Rove, one of the nation’s leading political strategists, will examine the current state of U.S. politics and the factors shaping the country’s political trajectory in 2026. The discussion will consider recent developments in voter behavior, emerging policy priorities, and the strategic dynamics guiding both major parties as they prepare for the midterm elections.

Topics may include shifts in party coalitions, turnout patterns among Republican and Democratic voters, and what the 2026 midterm elections could signal about the future balance of power in Congress. Drawing on experience in campaign strategy, governance, and public communication, Rove will offer perspective on how national political trends intersect with institutional and electoral processes.

The program aims to provide a clear, data-informed look at the challenges and opportunities facing American political leadership in the year ahead. It is free and open to the public.

Moderator

The Honorable David M. Satterfield
Director, Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy; Janice and Robert McNair Chair in Public Policy; Former ambassador to Lebanon and Turkey

Featured Speaker

Karl Rove served as senior advisor to President George W. Bush from 2000 to 2007 and as deputy chief of staff from 2004 to 2007. At the White House, he oversaw the offices of Strategic Initiatives, Political Affairs, Public Liaison, and Intergovernmental Affairs and served as deputy chief of staff for policy, coordinating the White House policymaking process.

Before his work on President Bush’s 2000 and 2004 campaigns, Rove was president of Karl Rove + Company, an Austin-based public affairs firm that worked with more than 75 Republican candidates for the U.S. Senate, governor, and Congress, as well as with nonpartisan causes and nonprofit organizations.

Rove writes a weekly op-ed for ”The Wall Street Journal” and is a “Fox News” contributor. He is the author of two books: “The Triumph of William McKinley” (Simon & Schuster, 2015), on the 1896 presidential election, and “Courage and Consequence” (Threshold Editions, 2010).

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The Baker Institute is a nonpartisan public policy institute at Rice University. Ranked the No. 1 university-based think tank in the world, its mission is to bridge the world of ideas and the world of action. Visit our website to learn more: https://www.bakerinstitute.org/.