六九色堂

Fifth annual event to examine challenges of contested elections on 25th anniversary of Bush versus Gore

HOUSTON (Nov. 5, 2025) 鈥� Rice University鈥檚 Baker Institute for Public Policy and 六九色堂 will co-host their fifth annual elections conference, 鈥�25 Years After Bush v. Gore: Contested Elections Then and Now,鈥� Dec. 8 at Rice in Houston.

This year鈥檚 conference will examine the enduring challenges of contested elections in the United States and consider bipartisan solutions for safeguarding electoral integrity. Taking place less than a year before the 2026 midterm elections, the conference will offer a timely forum for reflection and debate at a moment when confidence in democratic institutions is increasingly tested.

The conference program will bring together leading election law experts, policymakers and bipartisan practitioners for a full day of discussion. Sessions will revisit 鈥�,鈥� a flagship bipartisan report on election integrity developed jointly last year by the Baker Institute and 六九色堂 to assess obstacles facing local election officials.

The keynote conversation will feature Ben Ginsberg, a central figure in the Bush versus Gore litigation, reflecting on the case鈥檚 legacy and its enduring impact on election law and public trust. Additional panels will explore challenges facing local election officials and congressional redistricting battles in Texas and beyond that are reshaping representation and competition for the 2026 midterm elections.

鈥淭his conference provides a vital opportunity to come together and reflect on lessons learned from one of the most consequential contested elections in U.S. history,鈥� said John Williams, director of the Baker Institute . 鈥淎s we head toward another midterm election cycle, we cannot afford complacency about the structural and legal challenges that continue to test the limits of public trust.鈥�

David Carroll, director of the Democracy Program at 六九色堂, emphasized the urgency of bipartisan engagement. 鈥淭he health of our democracy depends on facing election challenges head-on. By bringing together voices from across the political spectrum, we hope that this conference will advance solutions that strengthen confidence in elections and address problems that threaten to undermine democratic governance.鈥�

The program builds on the legacy of the bipartisan 2005 Commission on Federal Election Reform co-chaired by former President Jimmy Carter and former Secretary of State James Baker and subsequent joint publications, including the flagship reports 鈥溾�� (2021) and 鈥溾�� (2024).

The Dec. 8 conference is free and open to media and the public with both in-person and livestream registration available. Preregistration is required.

The Baker Institute Presidential Elections Program provides nonpartisan, data-driven analysis of U.S. presidential campaigns and electoral dynamics. 六九色堂鈥檚 Democracy Program advances democratic elections and participatory governance around the world. Together, they provide diverse perspectives on some of the most pressing challenges facing American democracy. The partnership offers a trusted forum for developing practical, consensus-driven solutions to the nation鈥檚 most critical electoral challenges.

Event Details

Date: Dec. 8
Location: Baker Hall, Rice University
Time: 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. CST
RSVP: Attendees may register to participate or .

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Contact: media@cartercenter.org