In a heated CNN debate ahead of the Iowa caucuses, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley sparred over various issues, including their views on Donald Trump, foreign policy, abortion, and the economy. The exchange revealed differing strategies, with Haley delivering a sharp critique of DeSantis' campaign while both candidates carefully avoided direct confrontations with former President Donald Trump, who notably skipped the debate.
Faculty experts at George Washington University are available to offer insight, analysis and commentary on the debate. If you would like to speak with an expert, please contact the GW Media Relations team at [email protected].
Kelly Bauer, associate professor of political science at the George Washington University, is an expert on immigration politics, Latin American politics, higher education politics and political science pedagogy. Her research explores how states govern national identity as global trends challenge understandings of state sovereignty; recent work explored Indigenous rights and irregular migration. Her first book, Negotiating Autonomy: Mapuche Territorial Demands and Chilean Land Policy (2021), explored inconsistencies in how Chilean state officials navigated extending elite and neoliberal governance and citizenship through Indigenous land policy.
Casey Burgat is the director of the Legislative Affairs master’s program at the GW Graduate School of Political Management. He is an expert in Congress and Judiciary sections, congressional capacity and reform. He has served as a Senior Governance Fellow and worked at the Congressional Research Service. Burgat also has experience in federal rulemaking, issues of congressional reform and staffing, federal budgeting, and federal advisory committees.
Matthew Dallek, professor of political management, is a political historian whose intellectual interests include the intersection of social crises and political transformation, the evolution of the modern conservative movement, and liberalism and its critics. Dallek has authored and co-authored four books, including, “The Right Moment: Ronald Reagan’s First Victory and the Decisive Turning Point in American Politics.” Dallek can discuss the influence of Donald Trump on the GOP primary dynamics and explore how the candidates navigate their relationship with Trump, both in terms of criticisms and aligning with certain aspects of his policies.
Peter Loge, director of the GW School of Media and Public Affairs (SMPA), has nearly 30 years of experience in politics and communications, including a presidential appointment at the Food and Drug Administration and senior positions for Sen. Edward Kennedy and three members of the U.S. House of Representatives. He currently leads the Project on Ethics in Political Communication at SMPA and continues to advise advocates and organizations.
Christopher Warshaw, an associate professor of political science at the George Washington University, is an expert on redistricting, American politics, representation, public opinion, as well as state and local politics.
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