The 2024 Election: What Happened and Why?

With the 2024 election over, it’s time to look back with a fresh set of eyes on how the election played out the way it did and what it means for the next four years. This session will be led by two political analysts who will give you the real story about the results, not the popular commentary that we heard throughout all of 2024.

Speakers:

Pete Seat

Pete Seat is more than a guy with a rhyming name. A regular national news commentator and prolific writer who has provided live on-air commentary for CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, NewsMax and NewsNation more than 150 times combined, Pete Seat’s voice is sought after for both his astute political analysis and his zeal for playing Devil’s Advocate with conventional wisdom (is there even such a thing?). Based in the Midwest Heartland of America, Pete Seat sees political life from the day-to-day perspective of the average American, while at the same time possessing a keen understanding of the ways in which Washington, D.C., works (or doesn’t) following his tenure on the White House staff of President George W. Bush. Utilizing his unique set of experiences as the only child of immigrant parents, to serving as a White House spokesman, and being a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, Pete Seat helps audiences transcend the talking points to better understand how it all comes together (or all it will all come apart).

Mike Sistak

Mike Sistak is AFBF’s Director of Advocacy and Political Management. In this capacity he assists state Farm Bureaus with their Political Action Committee management, prepares political analysis, engages candidates for federal office, and supports AFBF advocacy initiatives, including grassroots trainings and teaching campaign management seminars.

Mike has over a decade of political experience. He has previously worked on Capitol Hill, in senior government relations roles in Arizona, and has worked on multiple campaigns for the House, Senate, and White House. He was previously AFBF’s Director of Grassroots Program Development from 2019-2021.

Mike graduated from The University of Arizona with a BA in Political Science and MA in International Security Studies.

Mike and his wife Maddy are originally from Phoenix, Arizona and now reside in Fairfax, Virginia.