Principal Pete Brodnitz is a Principal at the Benenson Strategy Group. He brings almost two decades of research experience to his clients, ranging from helping to elect heads of state on three continents to spearheading domestic political work at all levels (from nationwide to state legislative and municipal), to doing Fortune 500 corporate research and working with nonprofits and strategic think tanks. In 2007 Brodnitz was named Pollster of the Year, the industry’s top honor, for his work on the upset victories in Virginia of Gov. Tim Kaine, in 2005, and Sen. Jim Webb, in 2006.
In 2008 Brodnitz guided Democratic candidates to successfully gain control of Republican-held seats in both houses of Congress as well as on the state level. With Brodnitz’s strategic advice, Jeff Merkley became the first challenger in nearly 40 years to defeat an incumbent Oregon senator, ousting two-term Sen. Gordon Smith. Rep. Tim Walz secured a landslide re-election in his swing Minnesota district, and Democrats Tom Perriello, of Virginia, and Mary Jo Kilroy, of Ohio, were both elected to Republican-held congressional seats with Brodnitz’s help. Kilroy is the first Democrat to represent Ohio’s 15th District in 40 years.
On the state level, Brodnitz’s analysis and strategy in 2008 on behalf of the Campaign for a Moderate Majority’s independent-expenditure effort to elect Democrats to the Ohio Statehouse helped the Democrats pick up seven seats, enabling them to capture the Statehouse for the first time in 14 years. In 2007 Brodnitz helped Virginia Democrats secure a majority in the Senate of Virginia.
