Mercyhurst political analyst Joe Morris launches ‘About that Election’

Climate Change, Immigration Reform, the Economy… Politics has never been more divisive, complicated, or fascinating. With the 2024 presidential election approaching, Mercyhurst University political science professor Dr. Joe Morris wants to know what today’s voters are thinking and, more importantly, why?

In his quest to understand and inform, Morris has launched a docuseries called “About that Election” (drjosephmmorris.com), an initiative that gives the platform to everyday voters to tell their stories, to share what is important to them, and to encourage a climate of civil discourse about issues that are often polarizing. 

“About That Election was created as an opportunity for dialogue with voters to tell their story—stories that illuminate not only what they are thinking about upcoming elections, but why they are thinking the way they are, and help us to become the informed citizens that democracy demands,” Morris explains on his new website, where you can view existing entries and subscribe to receive new ones.

As a leading political analyst, the pundit’s popularity extends beyond the classroom and into the living room of thousands of television viewers throughout the Erie region and beyond. When Erie turned red for Trump in 2016, Morris was the go-to guy for media across the country seeking to know whether Erie, and by extension Pennsylvania, would do it again in 2020. From C-SPAN to the BBC, the requests came pouring in for Morris’ take.

His ability to simplify the intellectual content of complex issues made his explanations accessible to a larger number of people. Moreover, his impartial and dispassionate delivery of ideas won him a host of fans. 

“Dr. Morris is among our most-trusted analysts,” said Erie News Now reporter Ethan Kibbe. “Not only does he offer a vast body of knowledge about national and international events, but his true talent lies in taking complex issues and explaining them in easy-to-understand ways. He’s the ultimate educator, and he educates both our news team and our viewers.”

As an experienced pollster, Morris knows that polling results fall short of explaining what’s really on voters’ minds and what motivates their answers. By giving them the opportunity to share their thoughts, he hopes to create a climate of understanding. 

In a political world bent on contentiousness, Joe Morris salves even the bitterest of foes.

“If we want to do our part to make democracy work a little better, listening to other people’s stories is a good place to start,” Morris said.