Welcome to the Winston Group, a strategic consulting and research firm in Washington, D.C. Our site offers in-depth analysis on key policy issues that inform decision-makers and industry leaders. Explore our site content that includes political and election analysis, insights into policy issues, inflation trends, and videos. We invite you to return often for timely, data-driven perspectives.
Roll Call: The Big-Money Bust May Be A Game Changer
In his latest column for Roll Call, The Winston Group’s David Winston writes about the recent defeats of several well-funded Senate candidates in their primary races, and why this may signal that it may not be “your father’s midterms” two months from now. From Michigan to Minnesota to Texas, we’ve seen establishment campaigns with overwhelming money advantages in advertising spending come up short. The first of these was in Michigan, where Abdul El-Sayed won the Democratic
Latest Posts
“Are The Schools Ready?” “Ready For What?”
Socialists On The March – 3 Reasons They Are Gaining Momentum
How Do State Standards Map To NAEP Standards?
Policy and Politics
Winners and Losers: Campaign Ad Spending In Four Senate Primaries
Recent Senate primaries have revealed some interesting trends about campaign ad spending. As we have seen in Florida, Minnesota, Michigan and Texas, there are signs that millions being spent on campaign ads may be reaching their limits. The chart shows ad spending by or on behalf of each candidate. Florida: Socialist
Socialists On The March – 3 Reasons They Are Gaining Momentum
Socialist candidates are having success in many Democratic primaries across the country. The latest shock for Democrats was in Florida with Resistance hero Alexander Vindman losing to socialist Angie Nixon, despite his 37:1 campaign ad spending advantage. Democrats may be breathing a sigh of relief by averting a Wisconsin catastrophe
Senate Battleground Maine: The Secret To Success For Susan Collins
In the first of our Discussion Points Podcast Battleground episodes, we are spotlighting the Senate race between Susan Collins and Troy Jackson. (Link here to Episode 7: Senate Battleground Maine: Can Susan Collins Win Re-Election Again?) The current environment is challenging in a state like Maine, but this is something Collins
The Wall Street Journal: The Republican Party Is Losing Its Edge With Voters on the Economy
The Winston Group’s David Winston was recently featured in an article from The Wall Street Journal about cost-of-living worries and how the preference for Republicans to handle economic issues has started to slip. If Democrats win by double digits among independents and can sustain leads on the economy, a Blue
GOP’s Big Opportunity With 127 Million Filers: The Standard Deduction
In efforts to sell their Big Beautiful Bill, Republicans have focused more of their messaging on no tax on tips and overtime, but they may be missing their biggest opportunity to reach the most people with the standard deduction. The IRS says that about 90% of tax filers — 127
Are Tax Cuts Depriving The Government Of Needed Revenue?
Republicans have just passed the one year mark of their signature legislative accomplishment, The Big Beautiful Bill. One of the main Democratic criticisms of the BBB and the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is that tax cuts “deprive the federal government of needed revenue.” Given the nation’s bleak fiscal
“Are The Schools Ready?” “Ready For What?”
In a recent interview with The Wall Street Journal’s Kim Strassel, Center for Education Reform founder Jeanne Allen spoke at length about all the positive developments related to school choice happening around the country. As she discussed the current environment, Allen also described the dynamics of the last several years
How Do State Standards Map To NAEP Standards?
Earlier this month, the National Center for Education Statistics released the preliminary findings of its state/NAEP standards mapping study. For this initial research while the full report is prepared, researchers analyzed the shares of students reaching proficient on each state’s annual math and reading assessments and identifies the corresponding NAEP
Where Is The Political Will On Education? Part 2
At the end of last week, philanthropist and former NYC mayor Michael Bloomberg took to the virtual pages of Bloomberg with an op-ed with a straightforward thesis: “We can’t fix America’s schools without data.” The piece is a full-throated defense of using assessment data to help improve our nation’s public schools, and of
Roll Call: The Big-Money Bust May Be A Game Changer
In his latest column for Roll Call, The Winston Group’s David Winston writes about the recent defeats of several well-funded Senate candidates in their primary races, and why this may signal that it may not be “your father’s midterms” two months from now. From Michigan to Minnesota to Texas, we’ve seen
Roll Call: Will El-Sayed Play In Pontiac Come November?
In his latest column for Roll Call, The Winston Group’s David Winston writes about Tuesday’s Democratic Senate Primary in Michigan and what Abdul El-Sayed’s narrow win over establishment-supported Haley Stevens may mean for the general election in November. This was certainly not the comfortable victory that the surveys predicted. Now,
Roll Call: Republicans – Time Is Not On Your Side
The Winston Group’s David Winston writes in today’s Roll Call about President Trump’s recent address to the nation and whether he addressed the topic voters have said is their #1 priority: the economy and cost of living. Trump missed the opportunity to help voters understand the economic progress that has