Former Congress Members Open Up in NYU’s “In Dialogue” Series

(NEW YORK) — Congress won’t thrive until members learn how to work with each other despite these divisive times. This was the conclusion reached by a panel of former members of Congress who gathered at New York University (NYU) on Oct. 11 for “Congress in Conversation: Meeting in the Middle,” part of the university’s  “In Dialogue” series. 

Professor Patrick Egan, who teaches politics and public publicity, moderated the event at NYU’s Eisner & Lubin auditorium, where former representatives Ryan Costello (R-Pennsylvania), Joe Crowley (D-New York), Martha Roby (R-Alabama), and Loretta Sanchez (D-California) discussed the current challenges Congress faces with NYU students and the public in attendance.

Sanchez, who formerly represented California’s 46th Congressional District, talked about how the polarization in Congress is getting worse, where both Democrats and Republicans are more ingrained in their beliefs, making it harder to pass Bills. 

Loretta Sanchez, a former Democrat Congresswoman who represented California’s 46th and 47th Congressional Districts, speaks during the Congress in Conversation: Meeting in the Middle event. [Credit: Lynise Olivacce]

The former Congress members agreed that “cliques” among members tend to pose the biggest obstacles to collaboration. 

Roby, a former Republican Congresswoman representing Alabama’s Second Congressional District, believes that Democrats or Republicans can’t always get what they want but that being pragmatic doesn’t mean abandoning your party’s principles. 

Martha Roby, a former Republican member of Congress representing Alabama’s Second Congressional District, speaks during the Congress in Conversation: Meeting in the Middle event. [Credit: Lynise Olivacce]

Chloe Claytor, 18, a first-time voter who attended the discussion, was inspired by the bipartisan conversation from the panelists. 

“I think especially with the upcoming election, our country is very divided, and being able to see a panel of politicians with different perspectives and viewpoints be able to come together and work together towards a common goal, it gives…hope for our political landscape,” she said.

Another NYU student Maya Kantimahanthu, 18, also a first-time voter, shared the feeling of optimism. 

“Being able to see and hear the perspectives of people that are more pragmatic, and really advocate for working across the aisle…was really hopeful, and gives me hope for getting involved,” she said. 

The panelists also discussed the difficulty of running for Congress during a presidential election.  Costello, the former Republican Congressman representing Pennsylvania’s Sixth Congressional District, said it’s “markedly” different when running as a swing district candidate during a presidential election than in an off-year in a polarized environment. 

Ryan Costello, the former Republican in Congress representing Pennsylvania’s Sixth Congressional District, speaks during the Congress in Conversation: Meeting in the Middle event. [Credit: Lynise Olivacce]

Amid the challenges in Congress discussed, the former representatives spoke about what gives them hope. 

“There are rational, reasonable, pragmatic people that love their country,” said Roby. “We may come at it from very different perspectives. But we’re willing to listen to each other and hear each other and work with each other because, at the end of the day, we all love our country.” 

For more topics discussed in the conversation, you can watch it on CSPAN.