Latest News

Explore the latest news from Cygnal's team of expert pollsters and innovators.

Work Hack: Want to be Smarter in Your Campaign? Use Polling.

I vividly remember the first time I heard the phrase, “Work Smarter. Not Harder.” It was an extremely hot summer day on the obstacle course at Ft. Knox, Kentucky. There was sweat pouring from my body as I bent over with my hands on my knees along with the other members of my squad. A […]

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The Benefits of Survey Research for Political & Issue Campaigns

The proliferation of tech and how it can solve problems is a big deal right now and it should be. From platforms that hold vast amounts of data points to solutions that can model engagement and link Facebook to your target audience, there are many options out there to increase engagement rates, bring more of […]

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Tips for Consumers of Political Polling

It’s been no secret that polling is under fire. Heck, I’ve written about the topic a handful of times myself. Several peers have written in depth articles defending what we do. Still, the story continues to be debated in the public square. Clients still have questions that let me know they are concerned about today’s […]

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Budgeting for Political Consulting Firms Is Like Catching Fireflies

Do you remember summer as a kid? If you lived in the eastern half of the United States, your evenings probably involved catching fireflies. As you stand there in your backyard, jar in hand, you see the lightning bugs flicker their tails on and off. Your legs spring into action as you dive forward to […]

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The One Thing That Makes Your Political Campaign Successful

Imagine me coming at you like a late night infomercial, shouting a constant stream of industry buzzwords. Maybe I’m pouring wine on carpet then getting it out, or showing you a wicked-cool, growing chia pet. All while huge font text is plastered on your television screen. Now those of you who know me will say […]

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Lessons from a Trip to Colombia Presenting on Politics & Communication (…and Our Adoption Story)

I just arrived back from Medellín, Colombia – the City of Eternal Spring. If you’ve never been, seriously make it your next vacation. Beautiful setting in a valley 6,000 feet above sea level. Kind people that smile and speak to you on the streets. Perfect weather that puts Hawaii to shame. [Jump to the bottom […]

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Real Polling is Not Broken

While on a panel in Las Vegas for the 2017 Reed Awards, we dove into the topic of the reliability of polling. After the well-documented number of polling misses revealed in the November election, the polling industry was deemed unreliable and inaccurate. However, it should be noted that myself and other pollsters I hold in […]

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State Legislative Elections Are Erratic so Track & Plan Ahead

The smaller an electorate, the more unpredictable the results become. 135,835,472 voters showed up in the November 2016 General Election (67% of registered). Only 14.8% of registered voters participated in the GOP Primary. Out of those, 14,015,993 supported Trump, which translates to 7% of the electorate. Now think of the effect on even smaller races, […]

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3 Ways to Prepare Your Legislative Issue for Battle

I’m taking us back to my military roots. As my first platoon daddy told me upon entering an M3 Bradley Cavalry Fighting Vehicle for the first time… hang on and enjoy the ride. Army leaders have a process called Intelligence Preparation of the Battlefield (IPB) which is part of the overall Military Decision Making Process […]

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Cygnal Named Finalist for 7 National Political & Advocacy Awards

Campaigns & Elections – the leading political industry group – announced Cygnal was named a finalist for six national political awards and one national advocacy award. The national messaging, research, and digital firm is a finalist in the following categories: Best Use of Online Targeting for County, Local, Mayoral or Judicial Campaign Best Use of Online Targeting […]

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