Cozen Currents: The Defining Threat (to Define the Threat) to Democracy
January 9, 2024
January 9, 2024
“There is a shared concern among Americans of different political stripes that the future of democracy is on the line in this November’s election. The problem is that they disagree on who poses the bigger threat.” — Howard Schweitzer, CEO, Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies |
The Democratic View. President Biden and Democrats are making the case that former President Trump and the MAGA movement are a threat to US democracy.
The Republican View. The GOP frames the threat to democracy very differently: as the “weaponization” of the federal government.
The Sanctity of Elections. A cornerstone of democracy is the acceptance of open and fair elections, which are increasingly being called into question and being re-litigated in both the judicial courts and the court of public opinion.
A Growing Political Headache. Coalition building has always been at the heart of political success, but with both parties being pulled to the extremes, this poses new challenges for governing and campaigning.
A Majority is Just a Set of Coalitions. In governing, this challenge has presented itself most prominently this Congress in the House Freedom Caucus’ (HFC) fraught relationship with House GOP leadership.
Winning Elections Means Coalition Building. Just as with governing, coalition building is necessary to run a successful campaign, and the trend toward extremism in recent years has made this more challenging.
Filling George Santos’ Seat. With the controversial representative gone, a race for a pivotal swing district has national implications.
Not Just Any District. The New York third district features many special characteristics that make it worthy of attention.
A Glimpse into 2024. Every special election is a small data point in a picture of what November may look like.
Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies, an affiliate of the international law firm Cozen O’Connor, is a bipartisan government relations practice representing clients before the federal government and in cities and states throughout the country. With offices in Washington D.C., Richmond, Albany, New York City, Philadelphia, Harrisburg, Chicago, and Santa Monica, the firm’s public strategies professionals offer a full complement of government affairs services, including legislative and executive branch advocacy, policy analysis, assistance with government procurement and funding programs, and crisis management. Its client base spans multiple industries, including healthcare, transportation, hospitality, education, construction, energy, real estate, entertainment, financial services, and insurance.
Established in 1970, Cozen O’Connor has over 775 attorneys who help clients manage risk and make better business decisions. The firm counsels clients on their most sophisticated legal matters in all areas of the law, including litigation, corporate, and regulatory law. Representing a broad array of leading global corporations and middle-market companies, Cozen O’Connor serves its clients’ needs through 31 offices across two continents.
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