USC parents packed into the Forum at Tutor Campus Center on Thursday to hear two long-time rivals from opposite sides of the political spectrum — former Democratic strategist Bob Shrum and former Republican strategist Mike Murphy — unpack Tuesday’s election results nationwide and the impact they will have on American democracy.

“The truth of the matter is we both believe in friendship and in civility and in the possibility that people with different views can actually talk to each other,” Murphy said. “This kind of looks like an election-night crowd.”

Tuesday’s election reflected favorability toward Democrats

The two began the conversation by unpacking Tuesday’s elections. Murphy said the landslide elections that mostly favored the Democratic party have set the party up for success going into the 2026 midterms.

“[The elections] were dog bites cat, but the dog kind of ate the cat,” Murphy said.

Shrum said it’s not as simple as a rise in liberalism in the United States but rather an issue of what was on the ballot. He said that Americans care more about the price of eggs and their health insurance, rather than ongoing cultural issues that polarize parties. 

“[President Donald] Trump’s ratings on the economy are now worse than Biden’s ratings were at their lowest level. He was elected because people thought he could deal with affordability,” Shrum said. “They think he’s not dealing with affordability, and they’re frustrated today … They’re having to sacrifice things.”

Murphy also said the Democrats will need to tread carefully going into midterms to keep up the momentum. Over the last decade, Murphy said that when Trump spent too much time focusing on a highly polarizing issue, the Republican party lost support when people could no longer afford to live.

“You sit around your kitchen table debating the Constitution and Trump’s illegality when you have enough money for food,” Murphy said. 

Newsom’s 2028 chances 

This election discussion was followed by a question from the audience about which Democrat each of the former strategists thought would take the 2028 presidential nomination. Both Murphy and Shrum agreed that California Gov. Gavin Newsom has a strong chance of winning. 

“There are about five or six who are potential, real competitors,” Murphy said. “The governor of California … has won this 2025 pre-season campaign for the economy.”

Shrum said that although Newsom does look like a strong contender, it is still too early for polls to be accurate. 

“The overwhelming question going into 2028 is: Who has a realistic chance of becoming president as a Democrat?” Shrum said. 

Both sides are responsible for government shutdown

On the ongoing government shutdown, Shrum said that Republicans would lose support if they didn’t extend funding for the Affordable Care Act, which Democrats have been fighting for. 

“The idea that [Republicans] don’t want to keep [Medicare], they want to see massive premium increases in Obamacare, is poison for the midterm elections and poison for 2028,” Shrum said.

Murphy said both sides have been unwilling to give in and the battle will end only when things get bad.

“Republicans won, but the [Obamacare] pain is getting worse and worse,” Murphy said. “[Americans] will see: ‘My premium just went up $480 a month. I can’t have health insurance,’” Murphy said.

Murphy and Shrum ended their conversation with a farewell to the parents before leaving the auditorium. In the aftermath of the debate, parents talked to one another about the impact of the discussion.

Ken Hughes and August Goldman, both parents of USC students, were waiting for the room to empty from a cramped spot on the floor near the back of the auditorium. This was Hughes’ fourth year attending the event. He said every year it has been a highlight of parents’ weekend.

“It’s an invigorating experience to be close up and personal with them,” Hughes said. “They have such a perceptive, in-depth understanding of American politics.” 

Goldman said he had never been to any USC events but was beyond impressed.

“It was extremely erudite. I thought they were very balanced in their views. They answered every question, and this was a packed house,” Goldman said. “We were sitting on the floor, and we felt lucky to do so.”