Ben Krompak is a leading progressive pollster specializing in strategic research, public policy, and message development. As part of the Tulchin Research team that helped put Senator Bernie Sanders in serious contention for the 2016 Democratic nomination for president, Ben conducted polling and focus groups in states across the country. Advising the campaign on targeting, messaging, media, mail, digital, and field strategy, he ultimately helped navigate Sanders to victory in 23 primaries and caucuses.

An expert in directing research for legislative caucus programs, Ben polls for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in competitive swing districts, directs polling for Speaker Michael J. Madigan and the Illinois House Democratic Caucus, and has polled extensively for the California Assembly Democratic Caucus and for other multi-district independent expenditure campaigns. He has played a key role in some of the most significant red-to-blue victories in the country over the past several cycles and recently worked with New York State United Teachers to win the first major special election upset of the Trump era, sending Democrat Christine Pellegrino to the State Assembly from a deep-red Long Island district.

Ben has conducted hundreds of public opinion surveys and focus groups on issues ranging from education to wildlife conservation to health care to criminal justice. He has polled extensively for leading national environmental organizations including Defenders of Wildlife and the Environmental Defense Fund. He has conducted research on economic inequality and tax fairness and is an expert in progressive revenue strategies. He helped to develop the “California Millionaires’ Tax” initiative, which was ultimately merged with Governor Jerry Brown’s successful 2012 state revenue measure, and advised advocates working to establish a progressive state income tax in Illinois.

A frequent trainer and guest lecturer on public opinion and progressive politics, Ben has been part of the NLC Institute faculty for New Leaders Council chapters across the country and a panelist for the American Association of Political Consultants. His writing has appeared in The Hill, the Sacramento Bee, and the Toledo City Paper. In 2016, he wrote and directed Runoff, a short narrative film examining racial politics in the time of Trump.

Prior to joining Tulchin Research, Ben worked as a strategist and media consultant as founding principal of Krompak Communications. He lives in Oakland’s Warehouse District with his wife Michele and their dog Maximum Rocknroll (“Max”).