<figure><img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/c1d3eb3/2147483647/strip/false/crop/1563x1563+0+0/resize/528x528!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F08%2F13%2Fa3c2864343b99061b105f278a46c%2Fdemocracy-optimist-higher-res.png"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>How America Nominates Its Presidential CandidatesOur guest is Elaine Kamarck, a Senior Fellow in Governance Studies, and Director of the Center for Effective Public Management at the Brookings Institution. Dr. Kamarck is the author of “Primary Politics: Everything You Need to Know about How America Nominates Its Presidential Candidates” and “Why Presidents Fail And How They Can Succeed Again.”** WEKU is working hard to be a leading source for public service, and fact-based journalism. Monthly supporters are the top funding source for this growing nonprofit news organization. Please join others in your community who support WEKU&nbsp;<a href="https://afg.secureallegiance.com/weku/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=STORIES&amp;PAGETYPE=PLG&amp;CHECK=T1ss3Rah9hsuvcbaL4hWCOzWDeZ%2beA1M" data-cms-ai="0">by making your donation</a>.

Rob Richie

Democracy Optimist is a thought-provoking public radio series and podcast that delves deep into the heart of democratic processes, elections, and voting rights to ask a simple but vital question: how do we sustain our democracy? The series is hosted by University of Kentucky Election Law research professor Joshua Douglas, a passionate advocate for civic engagement, and produced by WEKU.