John Vinson | The Evolution of Political Polling
Wed Jan 28 2026
In this episode of GovExperts Insights, host Chris Britton talks with John Vinson, Senior Vice President at Ragnar Research, about how political polling is adapting to new technology, shifting voter behavior, and a fragmented media landscape—and what campaigns, candidates, and citizens should take from the numbers.Vinson draws on nearly a decade of campaign experience and years of polling leadership to explain how research drives modern campaign strategy: building message plans, testing attacks, targeting persuadables, and directing limited resources. He also breaks down a critical distinction in today’s polling environment—how private, client-funded polling differs from public surveys built for headlines.“Accuracy is our currency—Election Day is our report card.” — John VinsonKey InsightsFrom landlines to mobile-first research: Polling now relies heavily on mobile phones, expanding contact windows and requiring new outreach methods to reach representative voters.Fragmented media raises the stakes: Polls must measure not only what voters think, but where they’re getting information as audiences splinter across platforms.Benchmarks vs. brushfires: Early benchmark polls shape message strategy; late-cycle “brushfire” polls test whether ads and field efforts are actually moving voters.Regression testing and message impact: Ragnar uses regression tools to identify which messages shift opinions—so campaigns invest in what moves numbers, not noise.“Don’t trust polling you don’t pay for”: Vinson explains how incentives differ between campaign polling and media polling, and why methodology (live calling, mobile reach, stratification) still matters.Covid’s political aftershocks: The pandemic reshaped issue priorities, fueled school board activism, and shifted party registration patterns in states like Florida and Tennessee.About John VinsonJohn Vinson is Senior Vice President at Ragnar Research, one of the nation’s leading political and corporate polling firms. After nearly a decade working on campaigns nationwide, he moved into polling in 2019—bringing both campaign and research perspectives to survey design, message testing, and strategy.Why It MattersIn a crowded, fast-moving information environment, high-quality polling offers a disciplined read on what voters actually think. Reliable research helps leaders set priorities, refine messages, and avoid costly missteps. And for citizens, understanding polling methods makes it easier to separate meaningful insights from headline noise.Follow GovExperts Insights on LinkedIn or Spotify and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.
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In this episode of GovExperts Insights, host Chris Britton talks with John Vinson, Senior Vice President at Ragnar Research, about how political polling is adapting to new technology, shifting voter behavior, and a fragmented media landscape—and what campaigns, candidates, and citizens should take from the numbers.Vinson draws on nearly a decade of campaign experience and years of polling leadership to explain how research drives modern campaign strategy: building message plans, testing attacks, targeting persuadables, and directing limited resources. He also breaks down a critical distinction in today’s polling environment—how private, client-funded polling differs from public surveys built for headlines.“Accuracy is our currency—Election Day is our report card.” — John VinsonKey InsightsFrom landlines to mobile-first research: Polling now relies heavily on mobile phones, expanding contact windows and requiring new outreach methods to reach representative voters.Fragmented media raises the stakes: Polls must measure not only what voters think, but where they’re getting information as audiences splinter across platforms.Benchmarks vs. brushfires: Early benchmark polls shape message strategy; late-cycle “brushfire” polls test whether ads and field efforts are actually moving voters.Regression testing and message impact: Ragnar uses regression tools to identify which messages shift opinions—so campaigns invest in what moves numbers, not noise.“Don’t trust polling you don’t pay for”: Vinson explains how incentives differ between campaign polling and media polling, and why methodology (live calling, mobile reach, stratification) still matters.Covid’s political aftershocks: The pandemic reshaped issue priorities, fueled school board activism, and shifted party registration patterns in states like Florida and Tennessee.About John VinsonJohn Vinson is Senior Vice President at Ragnar Research, one of the nation’s leading political and corporate polling firms. After nearly a decade working on campaigns nationwide, he moved into polling in 2019—bringing both campaign and research perspectives to survey design, message testing, and strategy.Why It MattersIn a crowded, fast-moving information environment, high-quality polling offers a disciplined read on what voters actually think. Reliable research helps leaders set priorities, refine messages, and avoid costly missteps. And for citizens, understanding polling methods makes it easier to separate meaningful insights from headline noise.Follow GovExperts Insights on LinkedIn or Spotify and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.