What Does a Presidential Election Mean for the States?
ENACT Panel Features State Legislators from Maine, Mississippi and Utah
March 4, 2025
On March 4, the ENACT hosted a panel discussion featuring Mississippi House Minority Leader Robert L. Johnson III, former Utah State Representative and ENACT Faculty Fellow Jennifer Seelig, and former Maine Representative Charlotte Warren. The discussion focused on how presidential election results influence state-level political work.
ENACT Assistant Director David Weinstein moderated the virtual conversation, beginning by asking each panelist to share their personal and professional journeys into politics. The discussion also covered how the recent presidential election would affect state governance and memorable moments from their political careers.
Top of mind for everyone was the question of what state politics will look like given the recent presidential election. Seelig highlighted the trickle-down impact on local economies, particularly in research funding and grant allocations. She explained, “When you think about our relationship with the federal government, it's not in this hierarchical kind of situation that is clean and crisp. It is more like a marble cake. You can walk into the grocery store and be impacted by federal policy because of the price of eggs or any other just subsistence groceries that you're trying to get to feed your family.”
After the panel discussion, Weinstein opened the floor to students in attendance from Brandeis University, the University of Maine, Mississippi State University, Utah State University, and other schools to engage directly with the speakers through a Q&A session.
Students, many of whom are involved in local politics and advocacy themselves, posed questions relating to mobilization, navigating the political divide, and combating the growing sentiments of political apathy among voters.
Warren emphasized that at the end of the day, people need to be reminded that politics and political spaces are for them. She shared how she always invites people to the Maine State House, meeting them at the entrance and helping them accomplish their objectives.“It is all about relationships,” she said. “It’s about kindness even when we feel rageful.”
The conversation concluded with each panelist offering words of wisdom to students aspiring to enter political leadership. Seelig encouraged them to “continue to show up.” Warren shared her guiding principle: “Fake it till you make it. Do it even when you're scared. Do it even if you feel like you don't belong.”