That’s a wrap at the RNC

By Dr. Jason Altmire, President and CEO, Career Education Colleges and Universities

The 2024 Republican National Convention adjourned Thursday night as former President Trump accepted the nomination as the Republican candidate for president for the third consecutive election. His speech was poignant and the atmosphere in the convention hall was electric. Regardless of what one might think of Trump or his policies, it is immediately evident to any observer last night that his ability to connect with the audience is unmatched in American politics today. The crowd simply adores him and many seem to view him as an almost supernatural presence at the convention. He of course has his detractors, but inside the arena last night, he was in total command and had the crowd mesmerized by his every word. It was quite the spectacle and an amazing experience to view firsthand. 

His remarks received the predictable partisan response in the different media outlets, with Republicans-leaning media praising its tone, tenor, and topics, while Democratic-leaning outlets were expectedly critical in their reviews. The next step in the campaign will feature a return to the traditional Trump-style rallies and media appearances, this time co-starring vice presidential nominee JD Vance. In addition, the behind-the-scenes work will continue on preparing for a possible Trump return to the White House, with transition discussions focused on the policies and personnel decisions that will need to be made quickly if Trump is successful. CECU has been involved in these discussions and is well positioned to represent our sector as the transition talk continues. More on that to come.

Here in Milwaukee this week, I’ve been joined by CECU’s top Republican lobbyist, Jordan Wicker. We’ve spent the week meeting with individual members of Congress, attending policy and political events, and making the rounds at the countless other gatherings that draw large numbers of policymakers and party leaders. As an example, following JD Vance’s acceptance speech on Wednesday, we made our way to the after-party hosted by U.S. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) and Wyoming’s senior U.S. Senator John Barrasso, the third-ranking Republican in the Senate. 

At the reception after JD Vance’s speech, with U.S. Senator John Barrasso of Wyoming, U.S. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA), and Congressman Ron Estes from Kansas.

When I talked with Senator Barrasso about our work with career schools in the skilled trades, he quickly mentioned his visits with WyoTech, an outstanding CECU-member school based in Laramie, Wyoming. Likewise, Scalise referenced his work with career schools in Louisiana and his desire to continue to be helpful whatever happens in the next election. Among the many other members of Congress there was Rep. Ron Estes from Kansas. We talked with him at length about our schools and key issues, especially in the context of the excellent work Wichita Technical Institute does in training and placing students with Kansas employers. The congressman is excited to visit the school and we are already working with his office to find the time to get him there. This event is just one example of the positive outcomes that arise by being part of the convention and making sure CECU is there to represent our schools and students. 

On Thursday night, I spent time on the convention floor, as well as the private cloakroom that served as a gathering point for current and former member of Congress looking for a space to relax and recharge away from the chaotic environment of the convention floor. The atmosphere in the cloakroom was festive and it was good to see so many friends and former colleagues in that type of off-the-record setting. Everyone was in a good mood and the universal consensus was that the convention was well orchestrated and successful in the message it was designed to deliver. 

Walking out of the arena after Trump’s speech and the close of the convention, many members of Congress were, like me, exhausted after the week of nonstop events and activity. On Friday morning, the Milwaukee airport was a madhouse and many fights were delayed, the upside of which is that I had time to write this final summary for the blog. 

From here, we continue to lead the work of tracking and influencing the key legislative and regulatory issues impacting our sector. The relationships we’ve strengthened this week at the convention will no doubt help in that regard. I’ll be attending the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in August, joined by our Democratic lobbyist Joanne Zurcher. We’ll give your real-time reports and inside analysis of our activities there, as well.

Thank you to the many of you who have weighed in with questions, advice, or just to say you’ve enjoyed these reports from the room(s) where it happens. This week has reinforced for me the fact that CECU’s strong reputation and influence, across both political parties, is due directly to the work you do. We repeatedly heard this week that governors, senators, and congressmen and women knew about your schools, often had already visited, and always were impressed by their strength of programs and outcomes. You are the reason we’ve been successful in Washington in fighting bad policy and raising the visibility of our work across the partisan aisle. Thank you for all you do!