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A recent two-term governor in the swing state of Pennsylvania spoke about finding consensus while governing and also applauded a “generational shift” manifesting itself within the Democratic Party.

Former Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf ’71, who spoke on Nov. 6 at the Law and Democracy: The United States at 250 series co-sponsored by the and Dartmouth Dialogues, highlighted how, as a political newcomer, he brought pragmatic and ethical business experience to the governor’s office. 

 “I think what the eight years proved to me was that actually virtue does have a place,” Wolf told more than 90 people attending the Nov. 6 talk in Filene Auditorium and another 200 watching the . The conversation was moderated by Rockefeller Center Director , a professor in the Department of Government.

From 2015 to 2023, Wolf, a Democrat who ran for governor after operating his family’s building supply business, steadily steered his state through the COVID-19 pandemic, increased funding for public education, and installed a solar array that met 50% of the government’s energy needs. 

During his tenure, the state legislature was controlled by Republicans, and Wolf frequently wielded his veto pen, yet said he was able to find pathways to consensus by being honest and transparent with political opponents.

“I think there’s a middle ground here where you can actually accomplish a lot, hold onto your deepest principles, not sacrifice them at all unless you see something better, and actually get a lot of good things done,” he said. 

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Maya Dombroskie ’29 asks former Gov. Tom Wolf ’71 about the impact of student activism. The talk was co-sponsored by Dartmouth Dialogues and the Rockefeller Center. (Photo by Eli Burakian ’00)

As Barabas noted, Wolf has had “an unusual trajectory,” interrupting his Dartmouth education by working in India for the Peace Corps for two years, returning to graduate with honors, earning a master’s degree from the University of London in 1978, and receiving a PhD in political science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1981. 

Returning to campus this week, Wolf spoke with several groups of students and attended an election night watch party hosted by the Rockefeller Center.

“There were major contests in Virginia and New Jersey, and New York’s mayoral race got a lot of attention. There was also an important ballot referendum in California, and Pennsylvania held a judicial retention election. So give us your thoughts on that,” asked Barabas. “What stood out?” 

“None of the people who were elected looked like me. They weren’t old,” Wolf, who turns 77 later this month, answered. “I think that was the beginning of a generational shift. They also looked different in terms of their politics. They weren’t screamers. They were actually out there trying to do things that were aimed at helping actual people, not interests, not some abstract set of goals, but actually helping people. I think that was a good thing. I’m a Democrat. That was a good thing for the Democratic Party, and it’s a good thing for American politics.”

His speech came less than 24 hours after 34-year-old democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani was elected mayor of New York City, and the same day former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., who is 85, announced she won’t seek another term in Congress.

During the Q&A, Levi Hanscom ’29, a prospective government major, asked, “A lot of Democratic mayors and governors have emerged as the face of resistance to the Trump administration or leaders of the party, because Congressional Democrats don’t have a lot of power. I think this contrasts with what you were saying about governors focusing on helping people with bread-and-butter-politics. So I’m curious about what you think the role is of governors and local leaders in participating in national politics. How do you think they balance those two roles?”

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Former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf ’71 exchanges greetings with Rockefeller Center Executive Director Anna Mahoney after his talk in Filene Auditorium on Nov. 6. Wolf also spoke with several groups of students and attended an election night watch party during his campus visit. (Photo by Eli Burakian ’00)

Wolf replied that as governor, he focused mostly on the needs of his own state. But to meet those needs, he had to know how to access federal resources.

“Pennsylvania is the fifth-largest state in the union. We have a $50 billion general fund budget, but with Medicaid and other federal funds, it’s closer to $100 billion,” Wolf said. “I always looked not so much at ‘what do I need to do with Washington.’ I just looked basically at Pennsylvania.” 

Maya Dombroskie ’29 asked Wolf about the impact of student activism on the elections in Pennsylvania and, potentially, in the future of the Democratic Party. 

“The real thing that students bring is that you are really fed up with what my generation has imposed on you,” Wolf answered. “We boomers have not done a great job and so you need to clean up the mess. And that’s not going to be done by my generation any more.”

After the talk, Ben Buurma ’29 said he appreciated Wolf’s humility. 

“It was really interesting to hear him focus on how, when your political opponents see that you’re not interested in playing them and you’re interested in actually making real change, then that creates an environment in which there could be cohesion, people working together,” Buurma said. 

The Law and Democracy series, which started in late September, continues on Wednesday, Nov. 12, at 5 p.m., in Filene Auditorium with a talk by Nathaniel Fick ’99, a Marine Corps combat veteran who later served as the first ambassador at large for cyberspace and digital policy. And on Friday, Nov. 14, at 12:30 p.m., U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., will speak in Loew Auditorium.