Dear DFP Community,

Let’s be real: 2020 was awful. From the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, to horrifying instances of police brutality and racial injustice, to the devastating wildfires out west, to the most exhausting election of our lifetimes, it’s been a year of crisis and atrocity.

But in these challenging times, progressives didn’t sit back: we organized, we took to the streets, and we won on fights big and small. And at every step of the way, Data for Progress has been there to help respond with timely advocacy and cutting-edge analysis for the progressive left. We’ve worked with members of Congress on progressive policy, helped down-ballot candidates win key races, built stronger relationships with dozens of progressive organizations, and shifted the narrative in Washington. And we’re just getting started.

Here are some of DFP’s most important projects from 2020:

• We helped shape Joe Biden’s cabinet picks. After months of media appearances, organizing, advocacy, and memes, our VP of policy and strategy Julian Brave NoiseCat was a key player in getting Deb Haaland nominated for Secretary of Interior.
   
• We got some of the biggest names in politics on our blog, from Democratic Senate Leader Chuck Schumer calling for extending unemployment benefits, to Sen. Bernie Sanders making the case for his “masks for all” legislation, to Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez explaining the importance of the Census. DFP is now a go-to platform for op-eds from leading Democrats.
   
• We pushed Biden to embrace an ambitious climate plan — and he did. Our polling showed the Biden administration that climate was the issue voters trusted him most on — and our Clean Jumpstart project with Evergreen Action laid out policy proposals for an ambitious green stimulus. In the end, Biden endorsed a $2 trillion plan that Julian Brave NoiseCat called a “Green New Deal in all but name."
   
• Our polling predicted strength for Jamaal Bowman, Mondaire Jones, and Ritchie Torres in the New York primary — helping these candidates raise more money, attract support from progressive groups, and connect with voters. And on June 23, all three won! It’s rare for House campaigns to have access to the sophisticated polling we provide, which gave them a huge competitive advantage. Bowman, Jones, and Torres have all written for our blog, too!
   
• We showed immense voter support for a progressive coronavirus response. On March 5, before the coronavirus was even considered a major issue in the U.S., we dropped a blog post showing that voters want to cap vaccine costs. As the virus spread, we released multiple emergency memos showing majority support for a massive economic stimulus.
   
• Our Democratic primary polling was rated among the best in the field. We were rated the most accurate pollster in Iowa by The Economist’s G. Elliot Morris, and JHK Forecasts found us to be the best pollster in the entire Democratic primary. These results drove analysts to take our work far more seriously.
   
• Following the murder of George Floyd, we worked closely with partners like the Justice Collaborative to assist the Black Lives Matter movement and show voter support for progressive police reform.
   
• Our Green New Deal Slate helped environmental justice leaders win big on election night. From the Phoenix city council to the Minnesota state senate, the fund was integral to electing climate champions to important local positions!
   
• We strengthened our influence in the media and in D.C., from launching a new partnership with Vox to having Sen. Sanders cite our polling on the Senate floor just this week.

Looking forward to 2021, the incoming Biden administration has the opportunity to sign a massive new stimulus, invest heavily in clean energy, and take bold action on healthcare, justice, and other key issues. Millions of lives, and the fate of our planet, are at stake.

At Data for Progress, we are committed to deepening our connections in Washington, collaborating more with progressive organizations, and expanding our polling operation to help make 2021 a year of economic recovery and climate justice.

We need your support to make it happen — please contribute to Data for Progress by clicking below.