2025 Wilder Symposium on Sept. 25 at VCU will spotlight Virginia’s national impact on politics

By Pam Cox

Virginia is one of only two states holding a gubernatorial race in 2025, a contest drawing national attention and shaping conversations about America's political future. To explore this pivotal moment, the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University will host the 2025 Wilder Symposium, "Virginia's Elections: Our National Importance," on Thursday, Sept. 25, at 5 p.m. at VCU's W.E. Singleton Center for the Performing Arts, 922 Park Ave., Richmond.

The event is free and open to the public. Registration is required via the Wilder Symposium website.

Governor L. Douglas Wilder, the nation's first elected African American governor, will headline a panel of experts examining how Virginians' choices in 2025 could set the tone for the 2026 midterms and beyond. As one of only two states holding a gubernatorial election in this off-cycle year, Virginia offers a window into voters' priorities - perspectives that may help lay the groundwork for political debates and decisions nationwide.

"Virginia has always stood at the forefront of American history, and off-cycle elections give our citizens a unique opportunity to focus on local issues and lead without being overshadowed by national campaigns," Wilder said. "This election is about the kind of future we want to build for our children, our communities and our nation. Virginians' votes carry a national echo."

Joining Governor Wilder on the panel are:

• Susan Gooden, Ph.D., dean of the Wilder School
• Bob Holsworth, Ph.D., leading political analyst, managing partner of consulting firm DecideSmart and founding director of the Wilder School
• Robyn McDougle, Ph.D., associate dean of research and outreach at the Wilder School
• Niraj Verma, Ph.D., professor of urban and regional planning and public policy and the Wilder School's inaugural dean

The panelists will host an audience-submitted Q&A session. In addition, McDougle will reveal new findings from the nationally recognized VCU Wilder School Commonwealth Poll, offering real-time insights into where voters stand. Recent key results show Virginians are divided on Gov. Glenn Youngkin's leadership, deeply concerned about rising costs of living, opposed to Medicaid cuts and disapproving of efforts to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion programs.

"This year marks a historic moment as Virginians prepare to elect the commonwealth's first female governor," Gooden said. "The outcome of this election will offer critical insights into public sentiment on pressing national issues such as reproductive rights, immigration and the rising cost of living."

Media are also invited to attend a media conference with Governor Wilder and the panelists at 4 p.m. prior to the event. Media interested in covering the Wilder Symposium are required to register and should contact Pam Cox ([email protected] or 804-937-7936).

About the participants

Douglas Wilderis the 66th governor of Virginia and the nation's first elected African American governor, serving from 1990 to 1994. Governor Wilder graduated from Virginia Union University and Howard University School of Law, and he later established a legal practice in Richmond. He served five terms in the Virginia Senate before taking office as the lieutenant governor of Virginia. In 2005, he took office as the first directly elected mayor of the city of Richmond in decades.

Robyn Diehl McDougle, Ph.D., is associate dean of research and outreach at the Wilder School. Under Governor Wilder's leadership, McDougle has established the VCU Wilder School Commonwealth Poll as an esteemed polling operation not only in Virginia but nationally, including as an approved CNN Presidential Poll in 2020. The Commonwealth Poll provides voter opinions on current election forecasts as well as domestic and foreign policy issues across a wide spectrum of areas.

Susan Gooden, Ph.D., is dean of the Wilder School. She is an elected fellow of the congressionally chartered National Academy of Public Administration. Gooden is a past president of the American Society for Public Administration and a past president of the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs and Administration. Gooden, the author of six books and nearly 100 articles, received the prestigious Dwight Waldo Award, the field's highest lifetime honor for scholarly impact on public administration.

Bob Holsworth, Ph.D., is a frequently called-upon and referenced political analyst. He is the managing partner of DecideSmart and the founding director of the Wilder School. His comments on Virginia and national politics have appeared in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Washington Post and other newspapers throughout the nation. He has appeared on major American TV networks and on the BBC. He was named one of the 100 Influentials in Virginia Politics by Campaigns & Elections magazine.

Niraj Verma, Ph.D., is a professor of urban and regional planning and public policy. He served as director and the first dean of the Wilder School from 2010 to 2016. His contributions span more than 40 years and combine engineering, design and technology in urban planning, institutional analysis and public management. A winner of a Fulbright Award for Academic and Professional Excellence and supported by the Rotary, German Academic Exchange and Humboldt foundations, he is a globally recognized scholar and instructor, incorporating design theory approaches rooted in American pragmatism.

About the Wilder Symposium

The Wilder Symposium is a signature event of the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University. The annual forum is hosted by the school's namesake, L. Douglas Wilder, the 66th governor of Virginia. The event highlights topics ranging from local policies to state and national politics, and it has become a vibrant platform for activism, discovery and critical discussion in the commonwealth.

About the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs

Ranked in the top 15% of graduate schools of public affairs in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, No. 39 in the top 40 graduate schools of public affairs, No. 6 in homeland security programs and No. 33 in public management and leadership programs, the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs at Virginia Commonwealth University advances excellence in governance and promotes evidence-based public policy in Virginia and beyond. The school offers graduate, post-baccalaureate and doctoral programs in a wide array of policy areas, including criminal justice, homeland security and emergency preparedness, public administration, public policy and administration, and urban and regional studies and planning. Additionally, the Wilder School is home to robust institutes, including the Center for Public Policy, which provides applied research in the areas of state and local government, social equity and leadership, as well as a range of services to clients in state and local government, nonprofit organizations, businesses and the general public. Learn more at wilder.vcu.edu.