co-hosted with CU Boulder Political Science Department
Following our October First Friday pre-election conversation, this November’s First Friday will look back at the 2026 election and ahead to what comes next. Join CU Denver School of Public Affairs in partnership with CU Boulder’s Political Science Department for a post-election discussion led by University of Colorado Distinguished Professor and former SPA Dean Paul Teske.
Drawing on his extensive experience in Colorado public affairs and research on state and local policy, Teske will lead a conversation with journalists, political analysts, and other experts about voter participation, the results and issues that shaped the election, and the broader implications for Colorado’s political and policy landscape.
In person
Terrace Room (2nd floor), Lawrence Street Center
1380 Lawrence St, Denver, CO 80204
Virtual
Zoom
Program
Friday, October 2, 2026
8:30 – 8:45 am
Check-in and breakfast buffet for in-person attendees
8:45 – 10:00 am
Programming for in-person and virtual attendees
Moderator
Paul Teske, PhD
Distinguished Professor, CU Denver School of Public Affairs
Paul Teske is a University of Colorado Distinguished Professor and former Dean of CU Denver’s School of Public Affairs. His research and teaching focus on state and local policy, public management, regulation, budgeting, and education policy. Teske has advised Colorado state and local organizations and frequently provides expert commentary on public affairs issues in Colorado. He currently serves on the board of CiviCO and as the academic partner for the Colorado Governors Fellowship program.
Panelists
Anand Sokhey, PhD
Professor of Political Science, University of Colorado Boulder
Anand Edward Sokhey is a professor of political science at the University of Colorado Boulder, where he has served on the faculty since 2009. His research examines how political conversations, social networks, and community environments shape public opinion and political decision-making. He is the co-author of several books, including The Full Armor of God: The Mobilization of Christian Nationalism in American Politics (Cambridge University Press, 2023), and serves as an associate editor of the Journal of Politics.
Seth Masket, PhD
Professor of Political Science, University of Denver
Seth Masket is a professor of political science at the University of Denver. He is the author of The Elephants in the Room: How Trump Voters Seized the Party from Republican Leaders (Cambridge, 2026), Learning from Loss: The Democrats 2016-2020 (Cambridge, 2020), The Inevitable Party: Why Attempts to Kill the Party System Fail and How they Weaken Democracy (Oxford, 2016), and No Middle Ground: How Informal Party Organizations Control Nominations and Polarize Legislatures (Michigan, 2009), as well as a co-author of a recent textbook on political parties. He studies political parties, campaigns and elections, and state legislatures. He contributes occasionally at Politico, the Denver Post, and other publications, and maintains a popular Substack newsletter, “The Smotus Report.”
Krista Kafer
Denver Post Opinion Columnist, Adjunct Professor, Writer, and Broadcaster
Krista L. Kafer is a Sunday opinion columnist for The Denver Post, an adjunct professor of communication, journalism, and political science, and a frequent radio and television commentator. A Colorado native, she spent nine years in Washington, D.C., working for two members of Congress and serving as the Heritage Foundation’s senior education policy expert before returning to Colorado. She holds a BA in history and an MA in political science from CU Denver.
Scott Wasserman
Principal, Thinking Forward LLC
Scott Wasserman is a Colorado-based political and policy consultant with more than 20 years of experience working with governors, legislative leaders, labor organizations, and community advocates. He served as president of the Bell Policy Center for eight years, leading statewide ballot measure campaigns, shaping fiscal policy agreements, and providing policy expertise to communities across Colorado. He now leads Thinking Forward, LLC, which helps organizations turn ideas for progress into practical policy and advocacy strategies.
About the First Friday Breakfast Series
Our signature First Fridays with the School of Public Affairs event series covers a wide range of pressing issues and features panelists representing different viewpoints. The events are held in person and virtually most months during the fall and spring semesters. These gatherings are nonpartisan and designed for learning and dialogue. Speakers share their own views, not official positions of the School of Public Affairs or CU Denver. Our aim is always to provide context and multiple perspectives to deepen understanding.
CU Denver Security and Safety Information
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