Recent findings highlight that Democratic speakers vastly outnumber their Republican counterparts at this year’s graduation ceremonies at major colleges. In fact, a recent report indicates that more than 86% of partisan commencement speakers at U.S. universities—those ranked in the top 100 by U.S. News & World Report—identify as Democrats or lean in that direction.
The report, created by The College Fix, analyzed public statements and donation records to determine the political affiliations of these speakers. Notably, the data accounts only for speakers at major commencement ceremonies or undergraduate events when multiple ceremonies occur. Those speakers who did not openly express political views were deemed inapplicable for this analysis.
Republican speakers appeared to be a minority, with only six identified. Among them were notable figures like Arthur Brooks, a former president of the American Enterprise Institute, who spoke at Vanderbilt University. Dario Gil, a former Undersecretary for Science under Donald Trump, spoke at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, while former NFL player Colt McCoy gave an address at the University of Texas at Austin.
Interestingly, Francis Fukuyama, despite identifying as a conservative, delivered a commencement address at the College of William and Mary, even though he had supported Obama in the past. Other Republican speakers included Eric Dickerson at Southern Methodist University and U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee at Yeshiva University.
On the Democratic side, a range of speakers emerged, including New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill at the New Jersey Institute of Technology, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer at Michigan State University, and Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger at Virginia Tech.
Additionally, figures from beyond politics were also present. For instance, former press secretary Dee Dee Myers from Bill Clinton’s administration spoke at Santa Clara University, while actress Sarah Jessica Parker addressed graduates at Northwestern University. Other creatives like Kristin Davis and Jane Lynch also participated, underscoring a diverse representation in the Democratic lineup.
However, the landscape isn’t without controversy. Conservative speakers often encounter significant pushback on campuses. Chloe Cole, for instance, recently canceled a lecture at the University of Washington after facing threats. Similarly, South Carolina’s Republican Lt. Gov. Pamela Evett reported that her invitation to speak at South Carolina State University was rescinded due to her pro-Trump stance.
