Ryan O'Donnell
@rodonnell.bsky.social
executive director @dataforprogress.org | previously: barack obama aoc jamaal bowman seiu etc | he/him
https://linktr.ee/rodonnell
https://linktr.ee/rodonnell
Reposted by Ryan O'Donnell
The politics we have as Americans ultimately is up to us. We can choose for our democracy to be a dreary march to the drab center or running over groups of people with a metaphorical bus. Or we can choose an imagination battle that realigns the center so we can fight and build on favorable terrain.
December 11, 2025 at 5:16 PM
The politics we have as Americans ultimately is up to us. We can choose for our democracy to be a dreary march to the drab center or running over groups of people with a metaphorical bus. Or we can choose an imagination battle that realigns the center so we can fight and build on favorable terrain.
beyond zohran, sherrill ran on freezing prices and taking on corporate power while spanberger railed against trump's billionaire giveaways. there's no question that economic populism is a winner
November 5, 2025 at 8:45 PM
beyond zohran, sherrill ran on freezing prices and taking on corporate power while spanberger railed against trump's billionaire giveaways. there's no question that economic populism is a winner
zohran's election wasn't just a quirk of NYC — his policies are popular nationwide. voters want to see moral conviction and concrete plans to lower costs
NEW DFP Insight:
Voters everywhere respond when a candidate connects economic populism to clear, actionable goals.
Zohran Mamdani's policies are key examples — and they have popular appeal nationwide.
www.dataforprogress.org/insights/202...
Voters everywhere respond when a candidate connects economic populism to clear, actionable goals.
Zohran Mamdani's policies are key examples — and they have popular appeal nationwide.
www.dataforprogress.org/insights/202...
November 5, 2025 at 8:45 PM
zohran's election wasn't just a quirk of NYC — his policies are popular nationwide. voters want to see moral conviction and concrete plans to lower costs
So grateful for the team for putting their trust in me at this pivotal moment for our movement and our country.
If you want to learn more, work together, or just have a discussion, my DMs are open! Would love to get in touch.
www.dataforprogress.org/insights/202...
If you want to learn more, work together, or just have a discussion, my DMs are open! Would love to get in touch.
www.dataforprogress.org/insights/202...
Data for Progress Will Use Polling to Lead, Not Follow
As the right uses polling to justify fear, we need to use it to understand possibility.
www.dataforprogress.org
October 30, 2025 at 3:15 PM
So grateful for the team for putting their trust in me at this pivotal moment for our movement and our country.
If you want to learn more, work together, or just have a discussion, my DMs are open! Would love to get in touch.
www.dataforprogress.org/insights/202...
If you want to learn more, work together, or just have a discussion, my DMs are open! Would love to get in touch.
www.dataforprogress.org/insights/202...
Too much of the Democratic coalition are stuck on cautious, business-as-usual politics, while voters have no clue what they actually stand for.
We won’t use research to continue the status quo; we’ll use it to build a positive agenda.
We won’t use research to continue the status quo; we’ll use it to build a positive agenda.
October 30, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Too much of the Democratic coalition are stuck on cautious, business-as-usual politics, while voters have no clue what they actually stand for.
We won’t use research to continue the status quo; we’ll use it to build a positive agenda.
We won’t use research to continue the status quo; we’ll use it to build a positive agenda.
At Data for Progress, we know public opinion isn’t fixed — it’s shaped by trusted messengers, material conditions, and social dynamics.
We’re focused on learning what actually breaks through to voters to fight back against the right and build power for the left.
We’re focused on learning what actually breaks through to voters to fight back against the right and build power for the left.
October 30, 2025 at 3:15 PM
At Data for Progress, we know public opinion isn’t fixed — it’s shaped by trusted messengers, material conditions, and social dynamics.
We’re focused on learning what actually breaks through to voters to fight back against the right and build power for the left.
We’re focused on learning what actually breaks through to voters to fight back against the right and build power for the left.
I’m deeply honored to lead Data for Progress into our next chapter.
The point of our research is not to determine what our values should be, but how to fight for our values most effectively.
Excited to keep working with our amazing, dedicated team to sharpen our strategy.
The point of our research is not to determine what our values should be, but how to fight for our values most effectively.
Excited to keep working with our amazing, dedicated team to sharpen our strategy.
We are thrilled to announce that @rodonnell.bsky.social has been named the next executive director of Data for Progress!
Ryan is an expert in survey methodology with a long history in progressive and union politics — he has worked with DFP since 2019 to shape our electoral polling.
Ryan is an expert in survey methodology with a long history in progressive and union politics — he has worked with DFP since 2019 to shape our electoral polling.
October 30, 2025 at 3:15 PM
I’m deeply honored to lead Data for Progress into our next chapter.
The point of our research is not to determine what our values should be, but how to fight for our values most effectively.
Excited to keep working with our amazing, dedicated team to sharpen our strategy.
The point of our research is not to determine what our values should be, but how to fight for our values most effectively.
Excited to keep working with our amazing, dedicated team to sharpen our strategy.
Reposted by Ryan O'Donnell
NEW: The government shutdown and ceasefire in Gaza were the top stories breaking through to voters from Oct. 10-13.
www.dataforprogress.org/blog/2025/10...
www.dataforprogress.org/blog/2025/10...
![Horizontal bar chart titled “Most Heard News Story: Oct. 10–13, 2025.” It shows the results of an open-ended survey question asking U.S. likely voters what news story they heard about most recently. The top responses are:
Government shutdown — 25%
Ceasefire in Gaza — 22%
[All other items] — 11%
Immigration / Deportations — 6%
Nothing — 5%
National Guard / Chicago / Portland — 5%
Tariffs — 4%
Crime — 4%
Charlie Kirk assassination — 3%
Nobel Prize — 2%
General comments about Trump administration — 2%
Blank / Unintelligible — 2%
Don’t know — 2%
Tennessee explosion — 1%
Weather / Climate — 1%
James Comey / Letitia James indictments — 1%
Foreign policy (not Israel / Gaza) — 1%
Epstein — 1%.
Survey conducted October 10–13, 2025, among 1,217 likely voters by Data for Progress.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:ltzetlayeqsp4qu7pb4irz24/bafkreiecv2xe5tnvxc5b74oeumtqubgfnjnbu3hs4jb2yvqgdnd7vofkmi@jpeg)
October 16, 2025 at 6:04 PM
NEW: The government shutdown and ceasefire in Gaza were the top stories breaking through to voters from Oct. 10-13.
www.dataforprogress.org/blog/2025/10...
www.dataforprogress.org/blog/2025/10...
Reposted by Ryan O'Donnell
“Voters across party lines oppose Israel blocking food & medical aid in Gaza, & want Trump to demand that Israel let aid into Gaza.”
@rodonnell.bsky.social, interim executive director of @dataforprogress.org, writes about American voters growing critical of Israel.
Read: zeteo.com/p/poll-ameri...
@rodonnell.bsky.social, interim executive director of @dataforprogress.org, writes about American voters growing critical of Israel.
Read: zeteo.com/p/poll-ameri...
August 7, 2025 at 6:00 PM
“Voters across party lines oppose Israel blocking food & medical aid in Gaza, & want Trump to demand that Israel let aid into Gaza.”
@rodonnell.bsky.social, interim executive director of @dataforprogress.org, writes about American voters growing critical of Israel.
Read: zeteo.com/p/poll-ameri...
@rodonnell.bsky.social, interim executive director of @dataforprogress.org, writes about American voters growing critical of Israel.
Read: zeteo.com/p/poll-ameri...
How much attention do you pay to news about national politics on TV, radio, newspapers, or the Internet?
<> A great deal <> A lot <> A moderate amount <> A little <> None at all
<> A great deal <> A lot <> A moderate amount <> A little <> None at all
July 10, 2025 at 1:59 AM
How much attention do you pay to news about national politics on TV, radio, newspapers, or the Internet?
<> A great deal <> A lot <> A moderate amount <> A little <> None at all
<> A great deal <> A lot <> A moderate amount <> A little <> None at all
surprise! we too find the republican budget bill is *incredibly unpopular* — truly wild to watch so many house republicans willing to torch their own seats for trump’s ego, all while stripping their constituents of health coverage to fund tax cuts for billionaires
After reading a description of the bill, voters oppose it by a -19-point margin.
www.dataforprogress.org/blog/2025/7/...
www.dataforprogress.org/blog/2025/7/...
July 2, 2025 at 11:09 PM
surprise! we too find the republican budget bill is *incredibly unpopular* — truly wild to watch so many house republicans willing to torch their own seats for trump’s ego, all while stripping their constituents of health coverage to fund tax cuts for billionaires
Reposted by Ryan O'Donnell
New DFP Insights from @rodonnell.bsky.social:
"Mamdani’s campaign showcased how Democrats can reach disaffected voters by acknowledging our political and economic systems are broken and demonstrating that they will actually fight to help fix them."
www.dataforprogress.org/insights/202...
"Mamdani’s campaign showcased how Democrats can reach disaffected voters by acknowledging our political and economic systems are broken and demonstrating that they will actually fight to help fix them."
www.dataforprogress.org/insights/202...
Zohran Mamdani’s Victory Shows That Economic Populism Is a Winner
By running on economic populism, Democrats can show voters that they are offering bold solutions that will make life easier and create a more just economy.
www.dataforprogress.org
June 27, 2025 at 4:29 PM
New DFP Insights from @rodonnell.bsky.social:
"Mamdani’s campaign showcased how Democrats can reach disaffected voters by acknowledging our political and economic systems are broken and demonstrating that they will actually fight to help fix them."
www.dataforprogress.org/insights/202...
"Mamdani’s campaign showcased how Democrats can reach disaffected voters by acknowledging our political and economic systems are broken and demonstrating that they will actually fight to help fix them."
www.dataforprogress.org/insights/202...
any world turnout could get added to your sheet? 😇 it's so helpful already but turnout as a % of 2024 votes or something would be even more helpful
June 16, 2025 at 2:16 AM
any world turnout could get added to your sheet? 😇 it's so helpful already but turnout as a % of 2024 votes or something would be even more helpful
this is a good one imo! bsky.app/profile/data...
In late March, there was no consensus about what news story people were hearing most.
Trump's recent sweeping tariff announcement changed that — this is what it looks like when a news story truly breaks through.
Trump's recent sweeping tariff announcement changed that — this is what it looks like when a news story truly breaks through.
May 18, 2025 at 5:55 PM
this is a good one imo! bsky.app/profile/data...
this question also helps contextualize what "governing style" people want
April 16, 2025 at 10:07 PM
this question also helps contextualize what "governing style" people want
lots of good stuff in the new poll with zeteo — we also ran a conjoint test (iykyk) and the most favored profile for the 2028 dem nominee: a 47-year-old Black woman who’s governed a state and is an economic populist. if only this person existed
April 16, 2025 at 10:07 PM
lots of good stuff in the new poll with zeteo — we also ran a conjoint test (iykyk) and the most favored profile for the 2028 dem nominee: a 47-year-old Black woman who’s governed a state and is an economic populist. if only this person existed
we also tested favorables for a wide range of democrats — obama has the highest fav at 92%. fetterman has the highest unfav at 36%
April 16, 2025 at 10:06 PM
we also tested favorables for a wide range of democrats — obama has the highest fav at 92%. fetterman has the highest unfav at 36%
we tested a whole lot of names for the 2028 democratic primary with zeteo — considering vs not considering tells you way more than an early ballot test: cory booker currently leads at +68. stephen a smith finishes last at -18
April 16, 2025 at 10:06 PM
we tested a whole lot of names for the 2028 democratic primary with zeteo — considering vs not considering tells you way more than an early ballot test: cory booker currently leads at +68. stephen a smith finishes last at -18
i was surprised when we asked voters what news story stood out most during peak “signalgate” coverage — at best, it was tied with tariffs and losing to “nothing”
this week, though, trump’s tariffs were overwhelmingly the top story
this week, though, trump’s tariffs were overwhelmingly the top story
In late March, there was no consensus about what news story people were hearing most.
Trump's recent sweeping tariff announcement changed that — this is what it looks like when a news story truly breaks through.
Trump's recent sweeping tariff announcement changed that — this is what it looks like when a news story truly breaks through.
April 11, 2025 at 8:17 PM
i was surprised when we asked voters what news story stood out most during peak “signalgate” coverage — at best, it was tied with tariffs and losing to “nothing”
this week, though, trump’s tariffs were overwhelmingly the top story
this week, though, trump’s tariffs were overwhelmingly the top story
after the shutdown vote, we asked voters how democrats in washington handle political fights. the most common response? "weak"
March 15, 2025 at 3:12 PM
after the shutdown vote, we asked voters how democrats in washington handle political fights. the most common response? "weak"
voters often say they support mass deportations in theory—until they have to think about the actual people being deported. our research keeps proving it: cruelty only polls well in the abstract. make it real, and support crumbles
NEW: Voters oppose deportations of various undocumented immigrants — including those who have lower-wage jobs and a shorter length of stay in the U.S. — when presented with real-world case examples.
March 12, 2025 at 9:50 PM
voters often say they support mass deportations in theory—until they have to think about the actual people being deported. our research keeps proving it: cruelty only polls well in the abstract. make it real, and support crumbles
one funny thing about being part of an openly progressive polling outfit: plenty of center/right folks assume every poll we release skews left. but bad data isn’t just wrong—it’s useless. cooking numbers would hurt the movement, not help it
March 8, 2025 at 4:35 PM
one funny thing about being part of an openly progressive polling outfit: plenty of center/right folks assume every poll we release skews left. but bad data isn’t just wrong—it’s useless. cooking numbers would hurt the movement, not help it
new @dataforprogress.org data confirms what you’ve always felt: democrats criticize their own party way more than republicans do
March 7, 2025 at 7:02 PM
new @dataforprogress.org data confirms what you’ve always felt: democrats criticize their own party way more than republicans do
most voters have a sense of what oligarchy means — and it’s probably good bernie is helping teach the rest, since a plurality thinks we're becoming one
NEW: After learning the definition of oligarchy, 67% of Democrats and 61% of Independents say the U.S. is becoming more oligarchic.
www.dataforprogress.org/blog/2025/3/...
www.dataforprogress.org/blog/2025/3/...
March 6, 2025 at 5:02 PM
most voters have a sense of what oligarchy means — and it’s probably good bernie is helping teach the rest, since a plurality thinks we're becoming one
whenever you highlight real people affected by trump's immigration policies, voters consistently choose compassion over cruelty
February 24, 2025 at 11:29 PM
whenever you highlight real people affected by trump's immigration policies, voters consistently choose compassion over cruelty