Join us on Thursday, December 11 at 7pm ET for BigTentUSA’s final virtual conversation of the year with Gretchen Barton, Principal at Worthy Strategy Group, and Michael Frias, CEO of Catalist, as they break down what the 2025 election results and fresh exit polling tell us about the path forward in 2026.

With control of Congress—and the direction of the country—on the line next year, Barton and Frias will walk us through the data, voter behavior shifts, and emerging narratives that should guide pro-democracy strategy in the fight to win back the House and Senate and stop the Trump Administration’s agenda.

We’ll explore:

• What the 2025 electorate revealed about persuasion, turnout, and coalition strength
• How key demographics responded—and what that means for 2026 messaging
• Where the map is most winnable and where risks are emerging
• How organizations, campaigns, and communicators can adapt now to maximize impact

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS:

Gretchen Barton is the founder of Worthy Strategy Group, a research and strategy firm shaping influential narratives in American public life. A leading researcher and strategist, she has led national studies on poverty, women and leadership, the youth vote, immigration, gender in America, global nuclear disarmament, how Americans discern truth, what they seek in their next president, and what the Democratic and Republican brands signify. Over the past three years, she has spearheaded research and messaging in support of Ukraine and advocated for the return of Ukrainian children captured by Russian forces. Her work has been used by the U.S. State Department, global governments, and NGOs. She has also worked extensively to identify programs and messaging that reduce antisemitism. Gretchen has conducted interviews with over 3,000 Americans and designed polling reaching more than 200,000. She heads the American Leadership Project and advises History Wars. A Cornell graduate, she has authored multiple publications and research studies.

Michael Frias is the Chief Executive Officer of Catalist, the premier progressive data and analytics firm supporting campaigns, advocacy groups, and civic organizations nationwide. As Catalist’s first Latino CEO, he has led the company through a period of innovation, strengthening its role as a trusted source of rigorous and actionable insights into the American electorate. Michael brings over twenty years of experience at the intersection of politics, government, and national security. At the Department of Homeland Security, he served as Deputy Chair of the Common Vetting Task Force, where he led the creation of a big data environment to improve information sharing across DHS and the intelligence community, earning the Secretary’s Award for Excellence from Secretary Jeh Johnson. His political experience includes serving as Chief of Staff to Congresswoman Ann Kirkpatrick, holding senior roles in Governor Janet Napolitano’s administration, and leading statewide and national campaigns. He advises several innovation- and equity-focused organizations.