Why Gridlock Rules Washington and How We Can Solve the Crisis

A Conversation with
Devontae Freeland '19
President, Harvard College Democrats
David Jolly
U.S. Representative (R-FL) (2014-2017)
Analyst, CNN & MSNBC
Victoria Marquez '20
VP for Campaigns and Activism, Harvard Republican Club
Patrick Murphy
U.S. Representative (D-FL 18) (2013-2017)
Joseph J. Heck (Moderator)
Fall 2018 Resident Fellow, Institute of Politics
U.S. Representative (R-NV) (2011 to 2017)

Panelists Devontae Freeland, President of Harvard College Democrats, David Jolly, former US Congressman (R-FL 13) (2014-2017), Victoria Marquez, VP for Campaigns and Activism for the Harvard Republican Club, and Patrick Murphy, former US Congressman (D-FL 18) (2013-2017), joined Joseph Heck, 2018 IOP Resident Fellow and former US Representative (R-NV) (2011-2017), for a conversation on gridlock in Washington and the ways in which it can be remedied. The panelists discussed the lack of incentives for bipartisanship, issues surrounding campaign finance, and how gerrymandering has resulted in supermajority districts, as well as potential third-party candidates that break the traditional two-party mold, creating more open primaries, and opportunities to reach across the aisle.