Columbia University Political Analytics Conference


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.

Panels

  • 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, 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)

 

 

For further information, please contact the Political Analytics program at poan-admin [[at]] columbia [[dot]] edu (poan-admin[at]columbia[dot]edu).
 

To obtain additional information about program offerings at Columbia University’s School of Professional Studies, please contact an Admissions Counselor at inquire [[at]] sps [[dot]] columbia [[dot]] edu (inquire[at]sps[dot]columbia[dot]edu).

If you require closed captioning, sign-language interpretation, or any other disability accommodations, please contact Disability Services, disability [[at]] columbia [[dot]] edu (disability[at]columbia[dot]edu), at least 10 days in advance.

Please visit Columbia University’s Hub for Emergency Preparedness (https://preparedness.columbia.edu/) to stay up to date on the latest campus health and safety policies.

This event is open to individuals irrespective of identity and sex.