On November 7th, 2008, a panel gathered at the Center for American Progress to discuss the results of the 2008 election. The impressive lineup included Campus Progress Action’s own Policy and Advocacy Manager Erica Williams, and also featured Ruy Teixeira, Senior Fellow, Center for American Progress Action Fund, Anna Greenberg, Senior Vice President, Greenberg Quinlan Rosner, and Gene Sperling, Senior Fellow, Center for American Progress Action Fund.

The event began with a presentation by Teixeira during which he broke down the voter turnout data from November 4th. While the nation saw a 62.2% overall turnout, the highest since 1964, the most interesting changes were seen in the massive numbers of youth and minority individuals who turnout out to vote. 17-18% of all voters were ages 18-29, and 26% of the total was African American. These numbers show a marked up-tick in turnout for these two groups who have been historically absent at the polls. From his data, Teixeira concluded that not only do Americans want change, but America itself is changing.

Anna Greenberg and Gene Sperling then reflected on the outcome of the election and emphasized a very interesting and important point: both argued that the recent downturn in our economy was not the deciding factor of this election as many conservatives claim. Rather, they argue, the desire for a more progressive administration has been developing for years. As Greenberg explained, a confluence of factors (including the poor response to Hurricane Katrina, multiple lobbying and corruption scandals, and the growing disdain for the war in Iraq) led Americans to lose confidence in their government. According to Greenberg, it was largely this erosion of democracy and feeling that the democratic nature of government had been undermined that led to Obama’s victory on November 4th.

Williams built on the theme of long-term issues being decisive factors in this election by relating it to the youth vote. As she said, this election was different in that there is a “distinct generational identity based on the economy” that may not have been as prevalent in past elections. With social issues taking a back seat to our failing economy, the youth today were (and are) concerned about college affordability, unemployment rates, and their basic ability to survive in a country with a very high standard of living. This focal point led the youth to align, organize, and turn out in record numbers this election.

Although many statistics were shared, the respective campaigns were critiqued, and many questions were asked, the overarching theme of the event was clear: On November 4th, the American people came out to the polls and voted in favor of progressive candidates. In order to arrive at their decision, Americans took many substantive, long term issues to heart and voted to see a change in the current system. Thus, the speakers asserted, this election was in fact a mandate for change, a demand from the people to reform the government, restructure our broken institutions, and attempt to create a better country than the one we see before us today.