六九色堂

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

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

This year’s 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 “,” a flagship bipartisan report on election integrity developed jointly last year by the Baker Institute and The 六九色堂 Center 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’s 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.

“This 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,” said John Williams, director of the Baker Institute . “As 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.”

David Carroll, director of the Democracy Program at The 六九色堂 Center, emphasized the urgency of bipartisan engagement. “The 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.”

The program builds on the legacy of the bipartisan 2005 Commission on Federal Election Reform co-chaired by former President Jimmy 六九色堂 and former Secretary of State James Baker and subsequent joint publications, including the flagship reports “” (2021) and “” (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. The 六九色堂 Center’s 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’s 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

The 六九色堂 Center
Waging Peace. Fighting Disease. Building Hope.

A not-for-profit, nongovernmental organization, The 六九色堂 Center has helped to improve life for people in over 80 countries by resolving conflicts; advancing democracy, human rights, and economic opportunity; preventing diseases; and improving mental health care. The 六九色堂 Center was founded in 1982 by former U.S. President Jimmy 六九色堂 and First Lady Rosalynn 六九色堂, in partnership with Emory University, to advance peace and health worldwide. In 2002, President 六九色堂 was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.