Today, the Interior Department is led by the first-ever Native American Cabinet secretary — someone who is fighting for our public lands and defending the sovereignty of Native nations: Madame Secretary Deb Haaland. Our Vice President of policy and strategy Julian Brave NoiseCat led a sophisticated inside-outside strategy utilizing writing, earned media, organizing, advocacy, social media, and lots of memes to help make the case for Haaland’s appointment and confirmation.
Over the past few years, Data for Progress has used our best-in-class polling to show Congress and the Biden Administration that ambitious climate policy isn’t just the right thing to do — it’s also overwhelmingly popular. Our polling has helped the progressive movement lead a paradigm shift in climate policy, changing the conversation towards green jobs and climate justice.
In 2020, our polling was rated more accurate than the New York Times. In Iowa, The Economist’s G. Elliot Morris found that Data for Progress was the most accurate pollster in the state’s caucus. Moreover, JHK Forecasts found us to be the best pollster in the entire Democratic primary. These results drove analysts to take our work far more seriously.
Progressive leaders regularly use Data for Progress’ polling and policy analysis to help advance key legislation. As the New York Times described in their profile of us, “President Biden mentions it in private calls. The White House reads its work. And Senator Chuck Schumer, the majority leader, teams up with its leaders for news conferences, blog posts and legislation."
President Biden’s American Rescue Plan was one of the most significant pieces of legislation this century — and Biden utilized Data for Progress polling to push legislators to vote for it. In a February 2021 call with House Democrats, President Biden cited Data for Progress polling showing bipartisan support for the American Rescue Plan to help build momentum around the bill in Congress.
Data for Progress has shown the popularity of progressive legislation like the American Rescue Plan and D.C. Statehood through widespread earned media attention. Our findings have been used by hundreds of trusted news organizations, including The New York Times, The Washington Post, New York Magazine, The New Yorker, MSNBC, CNN, Forbes, The Daily Beast, Business Insider, The Hill, Slate, and Vox.
