Brent Buchanan – USA

Biography

Brent Buchanan is a messaging strategist and pollster who advises political and corporate leaders on how to understand data and truly connect with audiences through their existing frames of reference, emotions, and words. He is the President & Founder of Cygnal, a Washington, DC-based public opinion polling and data analytics firm specializing in policy and politics. Cygnal has grown from providing consulting and services to smaller campaigns to working for the President of the United States, driving tenfold growth in the last six years. The New York Times recognized Cygnal as the most accurate private polling firm in the nation, and FiveThirtyEight has ranked them the most accurate private pollster for the last three election cycles. Cygnal conducted more than 800 surveys in 2020 and over 1,300 surveys in 2022 in the U.S. and 17 other countries, with a 96% accuracy rate.

Brent, who was recognized by the American Association of Political Consultants as a “40 Under 40” and by Campaigns & Elections as a “Rising Star,” has served in multiple polling, communication, and strategy roles for governors, presidents, legislative leaders, trade organizations, and corporations. He serves on the executive committee of the International Association of Political Consultants and as its treasurer.

Brent created Cygnal’s proprietary Emotional Analytics, which quantitatively analyzes respondents’ emotions at scale, allowing a bypass of the logical brain to tap directly into the heart of what people are feeling, not just thinking. He presents around the world on how to understand and speak to voters’ and customers’ values and internal motivators that drive behavior and choice.

Brent has been married to his wife of 16 years, and they have five children, who range in age from 8 to 14.