Where Political Tech Is Headed: A New Playbook for 2026

The rules of political engagement are being rewritten—and progressives must move fast to evolve our campaign playbook.

Media ecosystems are fragmenting. Voter attention is harder to earn and maintain. Traditional campaign tactics are losing power. To close this widening gap, we need earlier adoption of cutting-edge tools, decentralized strategies, and the courage to abandon what no longer serves us.

Amid this complexity, something powerful is emerging: our ecosystem is maturing. We're seeing more collaboration and consolidation of talent, deeper strategy and mission alignment, and sharper execution for longer staying power. Startups are scaling. Infrastructure is solidifying. And across our portfolio, a wave of strategic mergers and acquisitions is strengthening the foundation of progressive political tech.

At HGL, we’re focused on bridging the space between what’s possible and what’s practiced. Over the past few months, we’ve:

Published the 2024 Political Tech Landscape Report, offering a candid look at where we’ve fallen short, where we’re gaining ground, and what it will take to win in 2026 and beyond.
Launched the Higher Ground Institute Media Innovation Fellowship, investing in six bold leaders building the next generation of progressive media infrastructure.
Spotlighted 13 transformative tools at our Netroots Nation New Tools Showcase.
Supported an unprecedented wave of mergers & acquisitions across our portfolio, signaling a turning point for political tech where consolidation is a sign of maturity and strategic growth.

The challenges ahead are real. But so is the ingenuity, grit, and vision of our community. With the right tools and a willingness to evolve, we can meet this moment and build something stronger.

Read on for key insights, innovations, and what’s next from Higher Ground Labs and Higher Ground Institute.

— Betsy Hoover
Founder & Managing Partner, HGL

Meet the 2025 Higher Ground Institute Media Innovation Fellows

This summer we welcomed six exceptional leaders to Higher Ground Institute’s Media Innovation Fellowship: Laura Liibbe, Andrew Markoff, Steven McAlpine, Jesse Thomas, Liz Utrup, and Gabriella Zutrau.

Their projects tackle one of our movement’s biggest challenges: engaging voters in a fragmented, decentralized media landscape. From WhatsApp-based outreach to smarter influencer measurement, each fellow is building tools and strategies that push progressive media forward. Read more about the Fellows.

From startups to infrastructure: The power of strategic M&A

HGL’s founder Betsy Hoover reflects on the unprecedented wave of mergers and acquisitions in our portfolio. She explores what these consolidations reveal about a maturing political tech ecosystem and why this moment is strengthening progressive tech infrastructure.

Congratulations to the winners of the 2025 New Tools Showcase

Congratulations to the winners of the 2025 Netroots Nation New Tools Showcase sponsored by Higher Ground Labs:

🥇 Overall Winner & Best New Tool: Boardlink AI by Just Edtech
🏅 Runner-Up Winner & Best New Feature/Product: Analytics & Marketing Studio by Chorus AI
🏅 Runner-Up Winner & Most Innovative Use of Existing Tech: Influencer Public Utility Tool by Double Tap Democracy

Shoutout to all 13 finalists who were selected from a competitive applicant pool to pitch in front of our live 200+ person audience, including Action Network, DDx, Grow Progress, Reach, AAPI Victory Alliance, M3 Media Mix, NonToxic Media, Practivated, Community Catalyst, and Priorities USA. Thank you to the Netroots community for voting for your 2025 winners.

Join us in congratulating them on LinkedIn.

Shape the future of digital campaigning: Share your insights

Our portfolio company New/Mode seeks your input: help develop the next generation of digital campaigning tools that address the real challenges and opportunities our movements face today.

Take this short survey (about 2~3 mins) and tell us about your digital campaigning and what social media and messaging tools you’re using to grow your impact.

Take the Survey

Recap: Voter Contact Technology Showcase

In June, HGL hosted a Voter Contact Technology Showcase, spotlighting tools that are redefining how campaigns organize, mobilize, and build power. From all-in-one voter contact platforms like Impactive and mobile-first canvassing with OpenField, to automation-driven CRMs like DaisyChain, scalable relational organizing through Rally, and targeted voter registration with Civitech, these innovations offer smarter, faster, and more personal ways to connect. Read more about the showcase.

Showcase Recap

HGI proud to support NDTC’s AI Course for Democratic Campaigns

Our friends at the National Democratic Training Committee (NDTC) released the first (and free) comprehensive AI course designed specifically for Democratic campaigns, which Higher Ground Institute was proud to partner on. The campaign-focused curriculum equips candidates to use AI strategically and ethically, from fundraising to voter outreach. With 2026 campaigns already underway, this resource ensures our leaders stay competitive in a rapidly evolving landscape.

WIRED recently spotlighted the initiative, calling it “the first official playbook for the use of AI by Democratic campaigns ahead of the midterms”

View the Course

Highlighting the HGL Portfolio

Check out 40+ political tech job openings on the HGL Portfolio Jobs Board. Apply now to be a Product Manager at Swayable, Machine Learning Engineer at Plural, Intelligence & Strategy Associate at Clipbook, and more.

A huge congratulations to the Quiller team on their acquisition by Grassroots Analytics. From day one, Quiller set out to bring smarter, more intentional AI to political campaigns—and now that mission gets even stronger. Read more here.

Chorus AI is hosting the Nonprofit Innovation Accelerator in NYC on August 21. Alongside fellow portco Daisychain, this program offers personalized digital strategy consultations from experts who understand the unique challenges of mission-driven work. Register here.

Social Currant's Ashwath Narayanan made the case for always-on, long-term creator networks as a core pillar of progressive infrastructure in his piece: Creators Aren’t a Tactic—They’re Infrastructure.

SoSha's Michael Roach showcased how advanced analytics can bring paid-ad-level targeting to organic social sharing—unlocking cost-effective, trust-driven voter outreach. Read more in Revolutionizing Digital Campaigns: The Power of Advanced Organic Social Analytics.

GoodChange announced new features that make it easier than ever for fundraisers to access the tools they need to grow. Read more here.

A new poll from Change Research reveals a strong rejection of isolationism and strong American support for global leadership through economic engagement and humanitarian action. Read the report here.

Civitech kicked off Fireside Fridays, a new weekly video series where CEO Jeremy Smith explores key issues shaping democracy—from voting and technology to policy and access. The first episode tackles a big question: Why don’t people vote? Check it out.

JusticeText is featured in TIME's latest piece on how AI technologies are rapidly transforming the criminal justice landscape. JusticeText shows how this innovation can be used to promote more equitable outcomes in an overburdened legal system.

ICYMI: 2024 Political Tech Landscape Report

Our 2024 Political Tech Landscape Report takes an honest look at this cycle—what worked, what didn’t, and where we need to go next. Even with historic outreach, too many campaigns struggled to break through the noise, reach key audiences, and compete with a powerful right-wing media machine. The report digs into the big themes shaping our movement, focused on helping our community close the distance between potential and impact. Download the full report here.

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