Marquette Law School Poll director Franklin goes 'On the Issues' to preview midterm election season

June 7, 2018

MILWAUKEE — Marquette Law School Poll Director Charles Franklin will provide an overview of statewide and national midterm elections in an upcoming "On the Issues with Mike Gousha," Thursday, June 14, at 12:15 p.m. in the Lubar Center at Marquette University Law School's Eckstein Hall.

If the November elections are a referendum on Donald Trump's presidency, are voters in special elections signaling a coming wave of political change, and in what direction? At stake in the midterms: the balance of power in Congress and state legislatures and the fate of dozens of governorships. Franklin and Mike Gousha will discuss the coming fall elections by examining the special election outcomes nationally and in Wisconsin (including the results from days before, on June 12), voter behavior in the Wisconsin Supreme Court race, trends in presidential approval ratings, voter confidence in the economy and the impact of congressional retirement.

Rather than present new polling data, this event offers a comprehensive look at the political landscape, including a historical perspective on patterns of voter behavior, the power of political parties and incumbency and changing political geography. This event is intended to take a step back and consider expectations for the state and national elections, clarifying what would be surprising and what would be in line with past midterm outcomes.

The date of the next Marquette Law School Poll, to be released later in June, will be announced shortly.

Franklin is director of the Marquette Law School Poll and professor of law and public policy at Marquette University Law School. He cofounded pollster.com, an award-winning site for nonpartisan polling analysis, and is a member of the ABC News election-night analysis team.

Gousha, an award-winning broadcast journalist, is the Law School's distinguished fellow in law and public policy. His "On the Issues" series of conversations with newsmakers supports Marquette Law School's commitment to serve as a modern-day public square for the city of Milwaukee, the state of Wisconsin and beyond.

Through public programming such as the Marquette Law School Poll, debates featuring candidates in significant political races, Gousha's "On the Issues" conversations with newsmakers, public lectures by leading scholars and conferences on significant issues of public importance, the Law School serves as the region's leading venue for serious civil discourse about law and public policy matters.

The event is open to members of the general public at no cost; registration is required and is available online. Members of the media who are interested in attending should contact Chris Jenkins in the Office of Marketing and Communication.