As the presidential election draws closer, Carnegie Mellon’s two primary political organizations — the Carnegie Mellon College Democrats and the Carnegie Mellon College Republicans — are working to engage students through events, outreach efforts, and discussions. Both clubs, which experienced periods of dormancy, are focusing on rebuilding momentum.
Although their leaders have organized debate watch parties, social events, and community activities, their efforts are still evolving. Interviews with Avalon Sueiro, president of the College Democrats, and Anthony Cacciato, president of the College Republicans, suggest there are gaps in policy engagement and long-term strategy.
Both clubs have acknowledged that working to maintain political engagement on an academically rigorous campus can be challenging. Both presidents said that political participation at Carnegie Mellon tends to spike during major election seasons but drops during off years, leaving organizations struggling to sustain engagement.
“Political activity on campus tends to rise and fall with the election cycle,” Cacciato said. “Our goal is to build a sustainable organization that continues to operate consistently, not just during major elections.”
Both clubs have emphasized informal, community-based events as their primary strategy for rebuilding engagement. The College Democrats have organized debate watch parties, game nights, and “Dogs with the Dems,” a therapy dog event designed to help students de-stress during the election season. Their largest event to date was a rally with Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, which drew over 400 attendees.
The CMU College Republicans have followed a similar strategy, hosting debate watch parties and continuing their annual “Meet the Candidates” series, which allows students to interact with Republican candidates running for local and state office. This year, they featured James Hayes, a candidate for Congress; Jeremy Shaffer, a candidate for State House; and a representative from the Dave McCormick for Senate campaign.
Cacciato noted that their general body meetings have served as space for members to discuss policy points such as inflation, however, he indicated that the discussions have remained informal and unstructured. “Right now, a lot of our policy discussions happen spontaneously,” he noted.
The Tartan observed that while both presidents expressed enthusiasm for engaging students, their responses to policy-specific questions about the candidates their clubs endorsed were limited. Both presidents expressed a desire to shift some of their clubs’ focus toward policy analysis and discussion. When asked about what policies they would like to prioritize, Sueiro noted that the College Democrats are still determining specific topics for in-depth discussions on Kamala Harris’s platform. For now, their efforts remain centered on building momentum through events like debate watch parties and campaign rallies.
Cacciato also indicated a similar goal for the CMU College Republicans, noting the importance of creating a space for meaningful policy discussions within the club. However, his responses leaned more toward logistical goals, such as expanding membership and fostering an inclusive environment for conservative students, rather than focusing on specific policy details of the endorsed candidates.
Despite these challenges, both clubs expressed an openness to collaborating on joint events, such as debates or policy roundtables. However, the timing and coordination of such events remain uncertain.
“We have talked with the Republicans about potentially doing something together,” Sueiro said. Cacciato confirmed that discussions have taken place but added that logistical challenges have slowed progress. “There’s interest on both sides, but the timing has made it hard to pull things together,” he said.
While the clubs aim to foster respectful discourse on campus, balancing partisan identity with open dialogue has been a challenge. Both organizations displayed campaign signs at the recent club fair demonstrating their alignment with national platforms.
Sueiro explained that while the College Democrats support the Harris campaign, they also seek to engage with broader progressive perspectives. “We’re committed to activism and building community, but we also want to create space for discussions beyond just party lines,” she said.
The CMU College Republicans emphasized their focus on providing a safe space where conservative students can express their views without fear of judgment.
“It’s important for our members to know that they can be heard and respected,” Cacciato said. However, both clubs admitted that maintaining inclusive spaces for students with differing views remains an ongoing effort, particularly given the polarization of national politics.
Looking beyond the election, both clubs expressed a desire to remain active throughout the academic year. Sueiro emphasized the importance of continuity, noting that repeatedly restarting the club every election cycle is not sustainable.
“We want to build something that lasts,” she said. The College Republicans echoed the importance of building a sense of belonging among their members, focusing not just on increasing numbers but on creating a supportive community. “It’s about building a space where people feel engaged and valued,” Cacciato said.
While both organizations have made efforts to engage students, the interviews indicated that their initiatives are still developing. Both clubs have focused on community events such as debate watch parties and meet-and-greets, with an emphasis on student engagement on campus.
According to both organizations, recent efforts have generated social engagement; both clubs are still in a phase of trial and error, aiming to identify what resonates best with the student body. Both presidents acknowledged the need to refine their approaches to incorporate more focused policy education. With the election approaching, they plan to expand policy discussions, and establishing more structured programming could help sustain student involvement beyond the immediate election season.
Both leadership teams remain optimistic about their future, with plans for more structured events, potential collaborations, and deeper policy engagement in the coming months. However, the extent of their success will depend on how effectively they address the challenges they currently face — whether by formalizing discussions, fostering respectful collaboration, or maintaining future interest.
With thoughtful leadership and a focus on long-term impact, the College Democrats and Carnegie Mellon College Republicans have the potential to create meaningful spaces for political engagement on campus — not only during this election season but in the years to come. However, as their current efforts show, there is still work to be done to ensure that their members are well-prepared to engage thoughtfully with the complex issues shaping today’s political landscape.
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