Inside Pollies 25: Highlights, Research & More

Welcome to June, AAPC Insiders! The energy in Colorado Springs last month was electric as over 1,000 political pros gathered for Pollies 25! Catch the highlights, revisit the insights, and celebrate the innovators who are shaping the future of political consulting below.
 
Plus! Get the full scoop on how 2024 voter behavior and AI adoption trends could reshape campaign strategy heading into 2026.
 
Anna Ross
Membership Marketing & Communications Manager
 
In this issue…
 • Pollies 25 in Review
 • AAPC Foundation Unveils Bipartisan Research
 • First Time’s the Charm
 • Interesting Reads
 • Don’t Miss

Pollies 25: Strategy, Celebration & the Future of the Industry

For the third year in a row, over 1,000 political professionals came together at AAPC’s Pollie Awards & Conference—solidifying it as the largest and most influential gathering in the industry.
 
Attendees dove into insightful sessions grounded in real data on AI, voter behavior and 2024 campaign lessons, while tactical breakouts offered immediately usable takeaways on how to engage influencers, storytelling, fundraising, compliance, and more.

"The Pollies continue to set the bar—not just in recognizing excellence, but in bringing the industry together to raise our collective game,” said AAPC President Larry Huynh. “This year proved again why this is the can’t-miss event in politics.”

The celebration continued with the prestigious Pollie Awards, recognizing the most effective and creative work in campaigns nationwide. 📘 See the full list of winners. [ [link removed] ]

“The energy, the collaboration, the sheer talent in every room—we saw the future of political consulting here,” added AAPC Vice President Kyle Roberts. “And it’s more innovative and dynamic than ever.”

You can also watch the Trailblazer and Hall of Fame tributes and acceptance speeches—a powerful reminder of what impactful leadership in this field looks like. 🎥 Watch now. [ [link removed] ]
 
📸 View the photo gallery [ [link removed] ] | 🎤 Get speaker slides [ [link removed] ]
Thanks for making 2025 unforgettable. We’ll see you next year in Amelia Island, March 24-26th.

AI, Voter Trends & 2024 Surprises: AAPC Unveils Bipartisan Research

At the 2025 Pollies, AAPC and the AAPC Foundation debuted groundbreaking, practitioner-led research analyzing AI’s impact on campaigns and dramatic voter registration shifts in four 2024 battleground states.
 
Representing a study featuring a survey of over 200 political professionals, in combination with in-depth interviews, the results uncover how consultants are integrating and evaluating AI technologies on the campaign trail:
 • ⚙️ AI is helping, not replacing. Consultants are leaning on AI to save time on internal tasks like summarizing transcripts, organizing research, and building decks.
 • 😐 Mixed opinions remain. While many find AI useful, concerns about misinformation and misuse persist.
 • 📚 Best use case? Synthesizing research, transcripts, and news ranked highest. Fewer consultants see it as a go-to for creating ads or social media content.

Building on the Data: Voter Registration Trends Signal GOP Momentum in Key States

New data from voter registration files in Arizona, North Carolina, Nevada, and Pennsylvania (2020–2024) point to a shifting landscape:
 • 🟥 Republican and unaffiliated registrations increased in nearly all states studied.
 • 🟦 Democratic registration declined in most.
 • 📈 GOP gains were especially strong among Black, Hispanic, and rural voters—particularly in Arizona and Pennsylvania.

These trends suggest campaigns will need to revisit their turnout strategies and resource planning ahead of 2026.

“The data was pretty clear: Democrats were caught off guard,” said Larry Huynh, Democratic consultant and AAPC Board President. “We should all take a hard look at our registration and turnout operations before it’s too late.”

The Takeaway for Campaign Pros: Whether it’s optimizing workflows with AI or adapting to changing voter rolls, staying ahead of these trends will be key to winning the next cycle.
 
Listen to AAPC’s full press briefing on the research here [ [link removed] ] .
Learn more about AAPC's mission here [ [link removed] ] and the AAPC Foundation's mission here [ [link removed] ] .

🎉 Congratulations to Madisyn Pettit – Pollie Passport Raffle Winner!

When Madisyn Pettit (Patriot Grassroots) arrived at her first-ever Pollies, she was one of 290+ first-timers diving into the nation’s premier political consulting event. She didn’t just attend—she engaged.
 
By completing the Pollie Passport during the New Members & First-Time Attendees Luncheon—visiting booths, meeting peers, and soaking up the experience—Madisyn scored a free registration to Pollies 2026 in Amelia Island, FL!
 
Want to make the most of your next Pollies experience? Take a page from Madisyn’s playbook:
 
👋 Don’t eat alone – Join a new table and introduce yourself.
❓ Ask, don’t pitch. People love to talk about their work. Lead with curiosity, not a résumé.
📨 Follow up fast – Send that LinkedIn request while it’s fresh.
🎯 Play the game – You might just win big!
Thanks to everyone who helped make Pollies 2025 so welcoming—our community is stronger because of you.

Interesting Reads

• AAPC in the news: National Journal [ [link removed] ] & Fox News [ [link removed] ]
 • The AI Campaign is Here [ [link removed] ]

Don’t Miss

• Midwest Regional Conference [ [link removed] ] | June 23-24 | Cincinnati, Ohio
 • Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference [ [link removed] ] | July 9-10 | Washington, DC
 • Southwest Regional Conference | September 15-16 | Austin, TX
 • California Regional Conference | October 14 | Long Beach, CA
 • Atlanta Networking Luncheon | October 30 | Atlanta GA
 • Pollies 26 | March 24-26, 2026 | Amelia Island, FL
 • Connect with us on LinkedIn [ [link removed] ]
 • The recording of AAPC’s May 21 Press Briefing [ [link removed] ]

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