Political Analytics: Insights from the 2026 Election
Overview
The 2026 U.S. midterm elections represent a consequential moment in the nation’s political landscape, with control of Congress at stake alongside gubernatorial, state, local contests across the country. As results emerge from the November 3 elections, this discussion will examine the forces that shaped the midterms, including voter turnout, campaign messaging, candidate strategy, economic concerns, and the broader national political environment.
This post-election discussion will bring together experts in political analytics to interpret the results, explore how data and analytics influenced campaign strategy, and assess what the 2026 midterms may signal for the future of American politics. The conversation will consider both the immediate implications of the results and the lessons they offer as attention begins to turn toward the 2028 presidential election.
Event Agenda:
4:00 PM - 4:30 PM - Registration (refreshments available on arrival)
4:30 PM - 4:35 PM - Welcome remarks
4:35 PM - 5:35 PM - Panel
5:35 PM - 5:55 PM - Q&A
6:00 PM - Departure
Moderator:
Greg Wawro, Professor, Department of Political Science; Director, MS Program in Political Analytics
Professor of Political ScienceGregory Wawro is the director and founder of the M.S. in Political Analytics program. He previously served as the chair of the Department of Political Science at Columbia. He holds his Ph.D. from Cornell University and specializes in American politics, including Congress, elections, campaign finance, judicial politics, political economy, and political methodology. He is the author of Legislative Entrepreneurship in the U.S. House of Representatives and coauthor (with Eric Schickler) of Filibuster: Obstruction and Lawmaking in the United States Senate, which is a historical analysis of the causes and consequences of filibusters. His most recent book, Time Counts: Quantitative Analysis for Historical Social Science (with Ira Katznelson), seeks to advance historical research in the social sciences by bridging the divide between qualitative and quantitative analysis through an expansion of the standard quantitative methodological toolkit with a set of innovative approaches that capture nuances missed by more commonly used statistical methods. Professor Wawro is currently working on projects that explore the role that social media is playing in congressional elections and democratic participation.
Panel:
Margie Omero, Principal GBAO; Democratic Pollster
Margie Omero is a Principal at GBAO with nearly 30 years of experience in qualitative and quantitative research. Her clients include Senator-elect Adam Hamilton (KS), likely Senator-elect Scott Colom (MS), Senator Sherrod Brown (OH), Senator Ruben Gallego (AZ), AARP, DGA, DSCC, American Bridge, National Security Action, Economic Security Project, and candidates for office around the country. Omero also leads the monthly focus group series America in Focus for the New York Times Opinion Pages, and she co-leads the Navigator Research team—a regular investigation into issues such as America 250 and Trump Regret. In 2022, she was named Democratic Pollster of the Year for her and the firm’s body of work. Omero is a regular writer, speaker, and commentator, appearing on MS Now’s Morning Joe, NPR’s Morning Edition, ABC’s This Week, and others. She attended the University of Texas at Austin, and lives in Takoma Park, Maryland.
Basil Smikle Jr., Ph.D. Professor of Practice & Director, M.S. in Nonprofit Management Program
Dr. Basil Smikle Jr. is a Professor of Practice and Director of the M.S. in Nonprofit Management program at Columbia University’s School of Professional Studies and a Political Analyst for MSNow (formerly MSNBC). With decades of experience in higher education, public service, and politics, his career has included serving as Executive Director of the New York State Democratic Party, a senior aide to Hillary Rodham Clinton in the U.S. Senate, and Distinguished Lecturer and Director of the Public Policy Program at Hunter College’s Roosevelt House Public Policy Institute. His expertise spans civic engagement, nonprofit advocacy, electoral politics, communications, and education policy. Dr. Smikle holds a Ph.D. in Politics and Education and an MPA from Columbia University and a B.S. from Cornell University, and he serves on several nonprofit and educational boards, including as a Trustee of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library.
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