A new generation of progressives is rising — a generation unafraid to fight for what we believe in.
We are a multidisciplinary group of experts using state-of-the-art techniques in data science to support progressive activists and causes.
Our Mission
WHAT WE DO:
→ Voter File Analysis
→ Digital Communications
→ Polling
→ Policy Development
→ Message Guidance
Data for Progress is a progressive think tank and polling firm arming movements with the tools they need to fight for a more equitable future. Led by a team of policy and data experts, we produce quality polling, data-based messaging, and policy generation for progressive causes, campaigns, and candidates.
Our work has been cited by the White House and used by U.S. senators, representatives, and local progressive leaders across the country. We’ve been cited by the New York Times, the Washington Post, MSNBC, CBS News, and hundreds of other trusted news organizations — from national outlets to papers and stations in small towns and big cities. And we’ve worked on some of the most exciting progressive campaigns in Democratic politics — as well as some of the most pressing issues of our time.
Our Reach
We have an unmatched earned media advantage that allows us to show millions of Americans the popularity of progressive ideas — and we’ve used that to build a comprehensive narrative to combat misinformation and bring popular, progressive causes to the forefront of politics.
Our social media advantage outpaces that of comparable think tanks, giving the progressive movement a powerful platform for quickly disseminating our ideas to a wide audience.
Most importantly, our polling margins are more accurate than our counterparts. We were cited among the most accurate pollsters in the 2020 election — and most recently, we had the most accurate polling of the 2021 New York City mayoral primary.
Our Results
We helped shape the Biden Administration’s coronavirus response.
The American Rescue Plan was one of the most significant pieces of legislation this century — and the White House 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. As Politico wrote, that call between the president and House Democrats demonstrated Data for Progress’ growing impact on national politics: “Data for Progress may not have been in existence when Biden was vice president, but it’s become a mainstay for activists and lawmakers on the left.”
We’ve led on climate policy.
Over the past few years, Data for Progress has used our best-in-class polling to show leaders in Washington and across the nation 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 toward green jobs and climate justice. We’ve shown the Biden Administration that voters across party lines support green jobs and clean energy investment, and have helped climate champions across the country win crucial local elections through our Green New Deal Slate.
We helped make the Biden cabinet more progressive.
Today, the Interior Department is led by the first-ever Native American Cabinet secretary — Madam Secretary Deb Haaland. Our VP of Policy and Strategy Julian Brave NoiseCat was one of the key advocates for Haaland’s appointment and confirmation, leading a sophisticated, inside-outside strategy utilizing writing, earned media, organizing, advocacy, social media, and lots of memes. We also worked to make Biden’s Cabinet more progressive by consistently showing with our polling that voters support antitrust enforcement to take on Big Tech, which we used to push for Jonathan Kanter as the Justice Department’s antitrust chief — a position he ultimately received.
We’ve helped elect national progressives to office — and we’ve collaborated with them on policy.
We’re using our polling to elect the next generation of leaders. In the 2020 congressional primaries, our polling predicted strength for candidates like Jamaal Bowman and Cori Bush — helping these candidates raise more money, attract support from progressive groups, and connect with voters. And we’ve used our polling to help build momentum around ambitious policy and demonstrate that progressive legislation will help Democrats win elections up and down the ballot. The Data for Progress Blog is also the go-to forum for Democratic lawmakers to write on and share their ideas while proving their popularity among voters. The DFP Blog has featured leaders such as Chairman of the Senate Budget Committee Bernie Sanders and Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus Pramila Jayapal.
