Women In Leadership Events are fun gatherings of interesting and engaged women who are passionate about protecting and expanding the rights of women by helping pro-choice women get elected to office. WIL events are not only fun and interesting, but a great opportunity for networking with like-minded women of all ages from all around Orange County! Please check our Events page frequently to find out about upcoming events!
Thursday, May 21, 2026 at 11:30 AM · $65.00 USD
WIL Luncheon with Jon Gould, Dean of the UCI School of Social Ecology and Professor of Criminology, Law and Society
Join us for a fascinating pre-midterm conversation with Jon Gould about the mood of Orange County voters (spoiler alert: they're not happy!) and what it might mean for upcoming elections
Orange County residents are fed up. They think Donald Trump is doing a poor job running the country, and they're not much happier with how Gavin Newsom is leading the state. More locally, only 41% believe Orange County is on the right track.
In a word, our neighbors are angry. So how will they vote in June and November? Will they turn out at all?
There's no one better to do a deep dive into these questions with than Jon Gould, one of WIL's all-time most popular speakers. He'll talk about the results of the most recent UCI-OC poll and how candidates from both parties will try to tap into general dissatisfaction with today's politics and political leaders to win over voters.
Jon is Dean of UCI's School of Social Ecology and a distinguished scholar in justice policy, social change and government reform. He created and leads the UCI-OC poll, an invaluable tool in tracking views on politics, housing, education, business climate, sustainability, transportation, crime, and other key issues in our county.
Jon is a dynamic and captivating speaker who knows more than anyone about the importance of Orange County - one of the only purple counties left in the country - as a bellwether for national politics.
The weeks before an election are stressful for those of us who follow politics closely. This conversation with Jon will leave you better informed and inspired. Join us!