The Georgetown Institute of Politics and Public Service (GU Politics) and MSNBC partnered to host the fourth Democratic National Committee (DNC) leadership forum Jan. 30.
Mo Elleithee (SFS ’94), the GU Politics director, and four MSNBC hosts moderated the forum, which allowed candidates for DNC leadership positions, including chair, to debate at Gaston Hall and answer student questions ahead of the Feb. 1 DNC elections. The next DNC chair will lead the Democratic Party and shape its voter messaging as it looks to rebound from losses in the 2024 election.
During the forum, chair candidates including Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party Chair Ken Martin, Wisconsin Democratic Party Chair Ben Wikler and former Maryland governor Martin O’Malley shared their visions for the future of the party.
Luke Russert, the MSNBC Live creative director and one of the forum’s moderators, said the forum offered both observers and party insiders the opportunity to profile the changes taking shape within the Democratic Party after their losses in the 2024 general election.
“We’re all students of politics in some form or another,” Russert wrote to The Hoya. “This forum will help the audience understand what Democrats see as a winning message and what changes need to be made internally within the party going forward.”
“When parties tear themselves down to the studs and rebuild, it provides a pretty good lesson in the art of organizing and persuasion,” he added.
Elleithee said the forum connected Georgetown University students interested in politics with a behind-the-scenes look at how the Democratic Party will plan to move forward.
“This is a great opportunity to understand how a major political party operates, how its leaders are selected, how its grassroots leaders are involved in that process,” Elleithee told The Hoya. “Only 448 people get to vote in the election for the DNC chair. A significant chunk of them will be in Gaston Hall tonight, sitting alongside Georgetown students.”
“It’s a great opportunity for students who are curious, as much of America is, where the Democratic Party goes from here,” Elleithee added.
Simone Guité (CAS ’26), the president of the Georgetown University College Democrats (GUCD), said that the decision to host the forum on a college campus reflects a political climate that prioritizes young voters.
“I was super excited for the chance for Georgetown students to be able to ask questions, because for those of us who are Democrats, this is our party too,” Guité told The Hoya. “Youth make up a large portion of the party and, as we saw in the last election, can really sway the election.”
Russert said MSNBC and GU Politics have a history of collaboration, which spurred the partnership to host the forum.
“MSNBC has had a wonderful relationship with GU Politics over the years and some of our leading voices are former GU Politics fellows, so it was a natural fit,” Russert wrote. “Living near the university, I see firsthand how civic minded GU is on a daily basis. Any time you can do an event with some of the smartest and well-read students in the country, it’s a real value add.”
Elleithee said the forum is essential in determining the future strength of the Democratic Party.
“For our system to work well, it is important we have strong, healthy, competitive political parties,” Elleithee said. “If we’re going to live in a partisan system, you want those parties to be strong. You want those parties both to be healthy. I always thought when I worked in politics that my side was stronger when the other side was strong, it forces us to bring our A-game. And right now, the question is, how strong is the Democratic Party and how does it rebound?”
Candidates for other DNC leadership positions also spoke at the forum, including Merika Coleman, a candidate for DNC treasurer. Coleman said motivating excitement for the Democratic Party is essential for new leadership.
“We have got to excite people in this country about this party, not just for us, but for the democracy of this country,” Coleman said during the forum. “I want to make sure my daughter that’s here with me today, your daughter, your son, your grandchildren, actually have an America that they can be proud of. So I have those specific qualifications when it comes to, but you got to have somebody with this passion also.”
Guité said she felt encouraged that the DNC worked to connect with students by hosting the forum at Georgetown.
“Sometimes we feel like we’re probably a little removed because we’re young people,” Guité said. “We’re still in college, but really, it does seem like there are people in the party who really do care about young people’s perspectives.”