A Conversation about the 2024 U.S. Elections

In anticipation of the upcoming U.S. Elections, please join the American Center in Moscow on Thursday, October 31, 2024, at 20:30 MSK for an insightful discussion and Q&A session with Lynne Tracy, the U.S. Ambassador to the Russian Federation and Charlie Cook, Senior Political Analyst. This discussion will trace key changes in U.S. elections, focusing on how demographic changes, media coverage and technological advancements have transformed modern elections. This talk will be moderated by award-winning author Lisa Dickey. About the Speakers: Lynne Tracy was sworn in as Ambassador to the Russian Federation on January 9, 2023. She is a career member of the Senior Foreign Service. Most recently, she served as Ambassador to the Republic of Armenia. Prior to that, she served as Senior Advisor for Russia Affairs in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs at the U.S. Department of State, 2017-2018 and was Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, Russia, 2014-2017. Her other leadership positions include Deputy Assistant Secretary for Central Asia in the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs at the Department of State, 2012-2014, and Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, 2010-2011. Ms. Tracy was Principal Officer at the U.S. Consulate in Peshawar, Pakistan, 2006-2009 and Principal Officer at the U.S. Embassy Branch Office in Astana, Kazakhstan, 2004-2006. Other overseas assignments include the U.S. embassies in Kabul, Afghanistan, and Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. She worked in the Office of the Special Envoy to the Newly Independent States at the Department of State in 2000-2001. Ms. Tracy is the recipient of the Secretary’s Award for Heroism and the Distinguished Honor Award. She earned a B.A. in Soviet Studies from the University of Georgia and a J.D. from the University of Akron. Ms. Tracy was born and grew up in Barberton, Ohio. Charlie Cook is widely regarded as one of the nation’s leading authorities on U.S. elections and political trends. In 1984, at the age of 30, he started The Cook Political Report, an independent, nonpartisan newsletter that The New York Times once referred to as “being regarded as authoritative by both parties,” while legendary CBS Evening News anchor Bob Schieffer has called it “the bible of the political community.” In addition to lecturing, Charlie continues to write his weekly column for National Journal, while also serving as a political analyst for the publication. He is also a co-author of the 2020, 2022, and 2024 editions of The Almanac of American Politics.