Do Swing Voters Want Boring Politicians?
Here's something that surprised me: I asked swing state voters what they want from Republican candidates in 2026, and every single one of them said some version of the same thing. They want ...
Research Studies
Tag: Election Insights
Election Insights Research Studies
Understanding what voters actually think - not what pundits assume - is the difference between winning and losing campaigns. Ditto's Election Insights research uses synthetic voter panels to test campaign messaging, track sentiment shifts, and uncover the real drivers behind electoral decisions.
These studies span Democratic and Republican campaigns, covering everything from healthcare messaging to tariff policy framing. Each study features verbatim voter quotes, demographic breakdowns, and actionable recommendations for campaign strategists.
What You'll Discover
- How voters respond to specific campaign messages and policy positions
- Which issues actually move swing voters vs energise the base
- Regional and demographic variations in voter sentiment
- Messaging frameworks that resonate (and ones that fall flat)
Explore our election research studies below, or book a demo to run your own voter panel.
Can Iowa's Auditor Run the Machine? Midwest Voters Weigh In
Here's something that's been nagging at me. Rob Sand, Iowa's State Auditor, is making a run for Governor in 2026 against Kim Reynolds. And the question everyone seems to be asking is: can a ...
Do Voters Trust Veteran Candidates? Swing State Answers
Here's something that's been rattling around in my head for a while: does wearing the uniform actually translate into votes? I see veteran candidates everywhere these days, particularly prog...
What Suburban Voters Want: Stay Moderate, Show Receipts
There's a consulting class debate that never ends: should Democratic candidates in competitive suburban districts move left to energise the base, or stay moderate to win swing voters? I've s...
Why Voters Split Tickets: Lessons From North Carolina 2024
In 2024, North Carolina voters elected a Democratic governor while simultaneously voting for Donald Trump for president. This wasn't a fluke or an accident. It was deliberate ticket-splittin...
Election Denial Is Disqualifying: What Voters Want in a Secretary of State
Here's a phrase that came up repeatedly in my research with voters about Secretary of State races: "Boring is good." Voters want election administrators who keep their heads down, run the pr...
What Voters Really Think About Healthcare Messaging
Here's something that keeps coming up in political strategy conversations: Democrats run healthcare ads warning about Republican cuts, and the response from persuadable voters is... mostly i...
Tariffs Are "A Tax With a Flag On It": What Fiscal Conservatives Really Think
Here's a phrase that came up repeatedly in my research with fiscal conservatives: "Tariffs are a tax with a flag on it." That was Omar, a 39-year-old surgical technologist in Oklahoma, and h...
Texas Suburban Voters to Democrats: "Show Me You Understand My Commute"
Texas Democrats just made history by fielding candidates in every race on the 2026 ballot. But can they win? That depends on what they say when they knock on suburban doors....
GOP Primary Voters on Fiscal Conservatism vs Trump Loyalty - The Split Is Real
The 2026 Republican primaries will test a fundamental tension in the GOP coalition: fiscal conservatism versus Trump loyalty. Which matters more to primary voters?...
"Protecting Democracy" Messaging Is Landing Differently Than Democrats Expect
Here's a messaging reality check for 2026: "protecting democracy" isn't landing the way Democrats think it is with swing voters....
Progressive Voters Are Ready to Volunteer - But They Have Conditions
The 2026 midterms are shaping up to be pivotal. Democrats need volunteers. Progressives are motivated. But here's what our research reveals: they're done with performative politics....
What Voters Really Think About Jonathan Nez
I got curious about something. Jonathan Nez, the former Navajo Nation President, is running for Congress in Arizona's 2nd District. If elected, he'd be the first Native American to represent...