WASHINGTON, DC – One week after hosting top officials from the House and Senate GOP campaign arms for a discussion about some of the key down ballot races across the country, The Ripon Society hosted veteran attorney and political strategist Ben Ginsberg for a follow-up briefing about the Presidential contest and some of the key issues impacting the election this year.
“You know, today is an eventful day in history,” stated Ripon Society President & CEO Jim Conzelman in remarks to open the briefing. “On October 13, 1792, for example, the cornerstone was laid at the White House. Likewise, on this day in 1854, the State of Texas ratified their State constitution. And on this date in 1943, Italy switched sides in World War II and declared war on its former ally, Germany.
“Speaking of war breaking out between allies, how about this election? I think it’s safe to say that this year’s race is one for the record books for sure. I think it’s also safe to say it is one that none of us will ever forget. To help us try to make sense of it all and share his thoughts on what might happen between now and November 8th, we’re honored to be joined by a veteran of GOP presidential campaigns and one of America’s leading political analysts – Ben Ginsberg.”
Ginsberg currently works as a partner at Jones Day, where he represents numerous entities and individuals participating in the political process. He is one of the nation’s leading experts on election law issues, particularly those involving federal and state campaign finance laws, ethics and gifts rules, government investigations, communications law, and election recounts. Prior to joining Jones Day in 2014, Ginsberg served as national counsel to the Bush-Cheney presidential campaigns in the 2004 and 2000 election cycles. He played a central role in the 2000 Florida recount. In 2012 and 2008, he served as national counsel to the Romney for President campaign.
“I think it’s safe to say that this year’s race is one for the record books for sure. I think it’s also safe to say it is one that none of us will ever forget.”
In addition to serving as a partner at Jones Day, Ginsberg also serves as counsel to the Republican Governors Association and has extensive experience on the state legislative level through Republican redistricting efforts. For his efforts in these and many other areas, Ginsberg was recognized as one of National Journal’s “100 Most Influential Lawyers in America” in 2013.
Conzelman noted that Ginsberg’s appearance before The Ripon Society yesterday afternoon follows up on a discussion the group held last week with Kevin McLaughlin, who serves as Deputy Executive Director of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, and John Rogers, who serves as Political Director of the National Republican Congressional Committee. In that discussion, Conzelman added, the pair previewed some of the key House and Senate races around the country, and shared their thoughts on the political landscape in this volatile election year.
According to Conzelman, yesterday’s luncheon discussion with Ginsberg was attended by a crowd of over 60 people. He noted that the luncheon was the 56th event The Ripon Society has held in 2016, and that additional events are scheduled for when Congress returns to Washington after the election. These events include a breakfast discussion with U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and U.S. Rep. Susan Brooks (IN-5) on December 1st, a Salute to Congressional Schedulers and Executive Assistants on December 12th, a lunch discussion on December 15th with Carroll Doherty, the Director of Political Research at Pew Research Center.
The Ripon Society is a public policy organization that was founded in 1962 and takes its name from the town where the Republican Party was born in 1854 — Ripon, Wisconsin. One of the main goals of The Ripon Society is to promote the ideas and principles that have made America great and contributed to the GOP’s success. These ideas include keeping our nation secure, keeping taxes low and having a federal government that is smaller, smarter and more accountable to the people.