Columbia University Political Analytics Conference
Friday, March 27, 2026 - 9:00 a.m - 4:00 p.m.
Columbia University's M.S. in Political Analytics will host its annual Political Analytics Conference in March 2026, convening leading professionals and faculty to examine the evolving role of data in politics. Building on insights from recent election cycles, the conference will explore key findings shaping political strategy, governance, and advocacy in the year ahead. Guests will gain perspective on how analytics continues to influence campaigns, policymaking, and civic engagement.
The day will feature four expert panels and a keynote address, along with breakfast, lunch, and dedicated opportunities for networking and discussion.
Panel Topics
- Polling 2026: Reborn, or Reimagined, or Barely Breathing?
- Political Analytics and AI: Risks and Rewards
- Winning the Screen: Data, Targeting & Media in 2026
- The (new) Crystal Ball: Prediction Markets, Models & Getting ahead of 2026
Keynote Speaker
Kabir Khanna, Ph.D.
Director, Election Analytics & Technical Systems, CBS News
Panelists
Wes Anderson
Partner, OnMessage Public Strategies
Jackie Burns
Communications and Political Strategist; GSAS ‘16
Erika Franklin Fowler, Ph.D.
Professor of Government, Wesleyan University; Co-Director, Wesleyan Media Project
Andrew Gelman, Ph.D.
Higgins Professor of Statistics and Professor of Political Science, Columbia University
Eunji Kim, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Political Science, Columbia University
Joe Lenski
Executive Vice President, SSRS
Benjy Messner
Founder at New River Strategies; Lecturer, Columbia University SPS Political Analytics
John Phillips
CEO and Co-Founder, Aristotle
Jane Rayburn
Co-Founder & Head of Polling and Qualitative, Workbench Strategy
Michael Schwam-Baird, Ph.D.
Deputy Program Director, Political Analytics; Associate Professor of Professional Practice, Columbia University SPS
Meg Schwenzfeier, Ph.D.
Senior Advisor, DCCC
Evan Roth Smith
Co-Founder, Slingshot Strategies
Doug Usher, Ph.D.
Partner, Forbes Tate Partners; Strategic Advisor, Columbia University SPS Political Analytics
Yamil Velez, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Political Science, Columbia University
Maeve Ward
Senior Advisor, Grow Progress
Gregory J. Wawro, Ph.D.
Program Director, Political Analytics; Professor of Political Science, Columbia University
David Wolfson
Managing Partner, DecipherAI; Lecturer, Columbia University SPS Political Analytics
Registration is required to attend this event.
- Political Analytics Program Affiliates: Free by Invitation
- Columbia University Affiliates: $5 (register by March 25, 2026)
- General Admission: $10 (register by March 24, 2026)
