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What’s In Store for 2026.
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Last year delivered a clear blue surge, fueled by renewed support from voters of color. Across nearly every county with competitive races, Democrats outperformed their 2024 marks. The open question now isn’t whether momentum exists, it’s whether Democrats can sustain it through the fall by actively engaging the energized base that made those wins possible.
Just one month into 2026, and the midterm cycle is already snapping into focus. The political environment is moving fast, shaped by voters’ strong reactions to violent ICE raids, immigration enforcement debates, economic strain, and growing demands for leadership and accountability. The terrain is emotionally charged and still up for grabs — setting the stage for a high-stakes midterm year for both parties.
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Partner With Us For the Midterms.
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Our extensive selection of research and strategy services continues to support advocacy organizations and campaigns. From public opinion tracking to messaging evaluation, we are positioned to help you make quick data-informed decisions heading into the Midterms. Here’s how we help teams:
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Jasmine Crockett’s Primary Run.
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In the Texas Senate Democratic primary, our client, Representative Jasmine Crockett holds a strong lead and outpaces her competitor across key demographic groups crucial for strong Democratic primary support. Her advantage reflects both early horserace strength and growing enthusiasm among Democratic voters in Texas.
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Alex Auritt, Lead Software Engineer
Alex Auritt, HIT Strategies’ Lead Software Engineer, is shaping HIT Strategies’ research tools by embedding artificial intelligence (AI) to responsibly support and advance our survey research. His focus has been on building internal tools that expedites questionnaire design, fielding, and quantitative analysis—
while keeping human judgment firmly at the center of every workflow.
Recently, Alex delivered internal workshops demystifying machine learning and large language models for our research teams, emphasizing transparency, data security, and methodological rigor over black-box automation. Beyond leading the charge on technological innovation at HIT Strategies, he is also preparing an industry conference presentation on human-in-the-loop AI systems, outlining practical architectures, governance-first workflows, and ways research organizations can integrate new technology without compromising quality, confidentiality, or cost control.
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In the News & HIT’s Data: Murders in Minnesota & America’s Outrage.
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Minnesota has become the epicenter of violent and aggressive ICE enforcement under “Operation Metro Surge,” with thousands of federal agents conducting raids across immigrant neighborhoods. When masked federal agents fatally shot Renée Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, fear turned to national outrage. Tens of thousands joined a statewide general strike demanding ICE’s withdrawal and federal accountability, sparking calls for a national “shutdown” day. Nationwide, faith communities, labor unions, and grassroots networks are mobilizing mutual aid, legal support, and public protest.
This outrage isn’t misplaced—it reflects what most Americans have been feeling. Polling done by YouGov just last week revealed that 55% of Americans say they have very little confidence in ICE, which is an increase of 10 percentage points since their last poll in December.
Last summer, HIT Strategies conducted national research with registered voters (n=1,000) who made their sentiments clear: 82% believed expanding pathways to citizenship was important (54% thought it was very important). This has only increased with time as the ICE raids have become more militant, brazen, and violent. The murders of Good and Pretti, and the images of five-year old Liam Ramos being detained by ICE have become symbols of a system viewed as inhumane and unchecked. Americans are increasingly unwilling to tolerate immigration enforcement tactics that tear families apart and fracture communities. The political consequence is unavoidable and we are witnessing an accelerated reckoning for elected leaders who allow this violence to persist.
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Featured Research & Team Highlights.
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New Academic Publication!
Senior Research Manager, Ashley Aylward, recently published a peer-reviewed article in the Journal of Communication in Healthcare about health equity and cancer treatment disparities. The paper reveals that first-person accounts of lived experience with racism in cancer care increased empathy, understanding, and support across racial and ideological lines.
The findings underscore that advancing health equity isn’t just about the data. It’s about how we translate it into inclusive, values-based messages framed around fairness and shared benefit which proved to be far more effective at building public support and moving people toward action.
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Congratulations to Senior Manager, Joshua Doss, on his nomination for NAACP’s Image Awards for Content Creator of the Year!
Joshua’s social media presence exemplifies leadership and commitment to advancing public research on race and economics. Cast your vote for a content creator and researcher actively shaping discourse on culture, politics, and economics. Deadline is February 13th!
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Media Highlights: HIT Strategies in National Conversations
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This month, HIT Strategies garnered national media coverage. Our polling was featured on KXAN News in coverage of the Texas U.S. Senate Democratic primary, highlighting new data that showed Representative Jasmine Crockett with a decisive lead among likely Democratic primary voters.
Terrance Woodbury, President and Founding Partner of HIT Strategies, joined The Tavis Smiley Show on KBLA-AM’s Black Information Network to discuss Black voter attitudes toward political power, immigration enforcement, and trust in government. He explored how deep political polarization and rising economic pressures are shaping voter engagement, particularly among Black communities, and argued that Democrats must offer a clear, affirmative vision for the country. Terrance emphasized the importance of channeling Black frustration and lived experience into meaningful political action as the nation enters a high-stakes midterm election.
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 Partner with HIT.
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HIT Strategies is proud to work with advocacy groups, campaigns, brands, and organizations shaping the future. If your team is looking for reliable, culturally competent insights this year, we’d love to talk.
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Want to Stay Connected?
Follow us or reach out directly to learn more about our services and impact.
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