Have you ever wondered what happens when an election unfolds in unexpected ways?

This episode dives into the surprisingly decisive 2024 presidential election, exploring its unique dynamics and the implications for American democracy. Despite expectations of a close race, the results were clear almost immediately, leaving room to reflect on the shifting coalitions, demographic trends, and the role of the Electoral College in modern elections. What does this tell us about the future of American politics?

Join hosts Savannah Eccles Johnston and Matthew Brogdon as they analyze what this election means for political parties, the electorate, and constitutional processes like the peaceful transfer of power.

Tune in for an engaging conversation that connects the election outcomes to broader themes in constitutional governance and American civic life.

In This Episode

• 00:42: Overview of the 2024 Presidential Election
• 02:02: Historical Context of Previous Presidential Elections
• 03:02: Changing Dynamics of Party Control and Dominance
• 04:04: Shift in Party Demographics and Minority Vote
• 05:02: Breakdown of Voter Demographics by Ethnicity and Sex
• 06:02: Discussing the Latino, Black, and Asian American Vote
• 07:23: Shift in Republican and Democratic Party Bases
• 09:24: Electoral College and Senate Outcomes
• 11:02: Peaceful Transfer of Power and Concession Speech
• 13:10: Importance of Adhering to Constitutional Principles
• 14:01: Process of Voting by Electors in the Electoral College
• 15:55: Managing Faithless Electors
• 17:23: Role of the Archivist in Electoral Process
• 18:13: Introduction to the executive agency
• 18:32: Role of the Vice President on January 6th
• 19:02: Historical context of Vice Presidents declaring their defeat
• 19:13: Kamala Harris's responsibilities and constitutional role
• 20:00: Process of opening electoral votes in Congress
• 21:02: Potential outcomes and controversies in the 2024 election
• 22:00: Trump's legislative prospects and potential challenges
• 23:07: Impact of divided and unified government on passing legislation
• 25:02: Significant bipartisan legislation examples
• 25:42: Election results and political stability
• 26:01: Future of American politics and upcoming elections
• 26:22: Conclusion and call to continue learning about the Constitution

Notable Quotes

• [00:01:14] “We have an incoming president who won the Electoral College, a majority of the popular vote, and all swing states—a clean sweep in 2024.” — Savannah Eccles Johnston
• [00:06:49] “Race is losing salience, while gender and class are becoming more central to party politics.” — Matthew Brogdon
• [00:15:06] “The decentralization of the Electoral College makes election fraud at a national level incredibly difficult.” — Matthew Brogdon
• [00:18:55] “The power of transitions reminds us of the strength of our constitutional system, even in divisive times.” — Savannah Eccles Johnston

Matthew Brogdon

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-brogdon-8a21bb89
• https://x.com/profbrogdon

Savannah Eccles Johnston

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/savannah-eccles-johnston-515a72198/
• https://www.instagram.com/savypolitics/

Visit the UVU Center for Constitutional Studies for m

Ever wonder why the candidate with the most votes doesn’t always win the presidency? Or question if the Electoral College still makes sense in today’s democracy? The Electoral College has been at the center of political debates for centuries, leaving many of us scratching our heads about its fairness and relevance. But how did this system come about, and why does it still determine our elections?

In this episode of This Constitution, hosts Savannah Eccles Johnston and Matthew Brogdon take a deep dive into the origins and evolution of the Electoral College, just in time for the 2024 presidential race. They explore the historical arguments that shaped its creation, the majority-takes-all system, and the mismatches between the popular vote and election outcomes that have left voters frustrated. From potential reforms like the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact to district-based voting, they break down the possibilities for change.

Curious to learn more and see how this system might impact the future of our democracy? Tune in now!

In This Episode

• (00:03) Introduction to the podcast
• (00:41) Electoral College origins
• (02:08) Alternatives to the Electoral College
• (03:00) Impact of slavery on voting
• (04:06) State-by-state voting process
• (06:10) Historical variations in elector selection
• (07:13) Electoral College's intended purpose
• (09:30) Political parties and the Electoral College
• (10:24) Current Electoral College systems
• (11:28) Majority takes all system
• (12:26) Mismatch between the popular vote and the Electoral College
• (13:57) The psychology of the wasted vote
• (14:53) Historical elections and popular vote discrepancies
• (15:24) Majority vs. plurality in elections
• (16:51) Geographic support and election outcomes
• (18:38) Impact of the Electoral College on political parties
• (19:08) Consequences of Electoral College outcomes
• (21:18) Rural vs. urban voting dynamics
• (23:14) Revisiting the district system
• (25:24) Gerrymandering and electoral outcomes
• (26:59) Cynicism towards gerrymandering solutions
• (28:11) National Popular Vote Interstate Compact
• (28:56) Texas Constitution and electors
• (29:27) Elector commitment and penalties
• (29:47) Theoretical vs. practical application

Where’s the Party? Presidential Selection Gone Wrong

Are presidential elections as democratic as we believe? How did we go from the Framers' carefully crafted vision to the whirlwind of primaries and national conventions that define our elections today? Over the years, the process of selecting a president has transformed—political parties have risen, conventions have become essential, and now primaries dominate the scene. With growing concerns over corruption, demagogues, and the weakening role of superdelegates, it’s time to ask: Is this truly the best way to choose our nation's leader?

In this episode of This Constitution, host Savannah Eccles Johnston is joined by Byrd Professor of Politics at the University of Virginia, James Ceaser, to dive deep into the evolution of the U.S. presidential selection process. Together, they explore the Framers' original intentions, fears of foreign influence, and the rise of political parties. They also discuss Martin Van Buren’s pivotal role in democratizing the process, the fall of the "King Caucus," and the impact of the Progressive era’s primary system. With a closer look at the modern challenges of populism and party dynamics, this conversation uncovers whether today’s system still serves the democratic ideals it was meant to uphold.

Ready to rethink how we elect our leaders? Tune in to this episode and join the conversation!

In This Episode

• (00:00:03) Introduction to the episode
• (00:01:18) Original intent of the framers
• (00:03:05) Impact of political parties
• (00:03:25) King Caucus explained
• (00:06:00) Breakdown of King Caucus
• (00:07:08) Rise of national party conventions
• (00:09:51) Non-partisan self-selection period
• (00:10:22) Advent of the two-party system
• (00:12:16) Van Buren's influence
• (00:14:27) Conclusion on political parties
• (00:14:53) Martin Van Buren's influence
• (00:15:48) Evolution of presidential election
• (00:16:11) Van Buren's political vision
• (00:17:23) Preventing American aristocracy
• (00:18:49) The national party convention system
• (00:21:40) Corruption in the party system
• (00:22:37) Progressives and political reform
• (00:25:53) Mixed system of primaries and conventions
• (00:27:39) Decline of the old system
• (00:28:13) Dangers of modern primaries
• (00:29:03) The convention formation
• (00:30:17) Concerns of the founders
• (00:30:51) Challenges to reform
• (00:31:15) Superdelegates and party dynamics
• (00:33:11) Decline of superdelegates
• (00:35:16) Trump's unconventional nomination
• (00:36:24) The future of primaries
• (00:36:55) Kamala Harris as a nominee
• (00:39:17) Conclusion on the primary system

About James Ceaser

James W. Ceaser is the Harry F. Byrd Professor of Politics at the University of Virginia, where he also leads the Program on Constitutionalism and Democracy. An accomplished author, he has written several influential works on American politics and political theory, including Presidential Selection, Reconstructing America, and Nature and History in American Political Development.

In addition to his academic contributions, Ceaser frequently writes for popular outlets, such as The Weekly Standard and National Review. He has also served as a presidential appointee to the National Archives Commission.

Throughout his career, Ceaser has held visiting professorships at the University of Florence, the University of Basel, Oxford University, the University of Bordeaux, the University of Rennes, Harvard, and Princeton. In 2015, he was honored with the Bradley Prize.

Beyond his role on the Board of Directors, he serves as a member of the Academic Advisory Council for the Jack Miller Center.