OUR MISSION:

HELP YOU WIN WITH EXCEPTIONAL RESEARCH WITH TOP-NOTCH CLIENT SERVICE

Sure, we’re not the only research firm out there.

But Jones Mandel is recognized as “best in class” because we offer our clients advice and strategic counsel, not just raw data. We know our clients don’t have the time to connect all the dots themselves, so we pair our research products with ongoing, research-based strategic counsel.

To us, high quality research is not just about finding information, but having the judgment to make connections, identify the most important points and see the big picture. The result is an interactive relationship that helps our clients use research to achieve their goals, whether it’s winning an election, gaining an edge over the competition, influencing policy makers or protecting a reputation.

MORE THAN 40 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE

We have more than 40+ years of combined experience providing high-quality, customized research and competitive intelligence, and unmatched client services.

Through our experience, we’ve learned that no two research projects are alike. At Jones Mandel, we never offer a one-size-fits-all package or follow a generic checklist approach.

We spend time understanding our clients’ goals and challenges so we can design projects that meet each client where they are.

WE LISTEN.

& WE QUESTION

In the scope of work phase, we ask you lots of specific questions, so we can find and prepare the research that will help you succeed.

WE PLAN.

& WE DELIVER.

We deliver Actionable Intelligence. Our research documents are strategic in preparing you for your next move.

WE SUPPORT.

& WE CARE.

We wholeheartedly believe in our clients’ causes, which is why our research and client support is second to none.

On-going client support and strategic advice is the heart of our company.

LET'S TALK

What Drives Our Work?

PASSION

We got into this business because we believed wholeheartedly in the causes our candidates were campaigning for. Since then, we’ve advised candidates running for everything from president to the State House, and for causes including immigration reform, environmental conservation and fair labor practices.

CURIOUSITY

We are problem solvers who believe that all research work begins with a set of questions that have answers. What drives our work is our commitment to developing a solution for each client that invokes our natural curiosity and problem solving skills.

COMPETITION

We are competitive. We like to win. We are driven to understand our clients’ goals and challenges so we can design projects that meet each client where they are. Our approach has helped elect six current U.S. Senators, four sitting governors, numerous U.S. House members and state and local officials from coast to coast.

Political Intelligence

President Barack Obama
Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton
Democratic National Committee
Democratic Governors Association

Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee
Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee
North Carolina Democratic Party
Democratic Party of Virginia

Florida Democratic Party
Washington State Democrats
EMILY’s List

Democratic Governors

Governor Terry McAuliffe (D-VA)
Governor Roy Cooper (D-NC)
Governor Tom Wolf (D-PA)
Governor Jay Inslee (D-WA)
DGA Super PAC for Gov. Dan Malloy (D-CT)
DGA Super PAC for Gov. Jim Justice (D-WV)

U.S. Senators

Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA)
Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ)
Senator Patty Murray (D-WA)
Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)
Senator Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND)
Super PAC for Senator Mark Warner (D-VA)

U.S. Representatives

Rep. Suzan DelBene (WA-01)
Rep. Derek Kilmer (WA-06)
Rep. Pramila Jayapal (WA-07)
Rep. Denny Heck (WA-10)
Rep. Jamie Raskin (MD-08)
Rep. Dwight Evans (PA-02)
Rep. Chellie Pingree (ME-01)
Rep. Tim Walz (MN-01)
Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham (NM-01)
Rep. Raul Ruiz (CA-36)
Rep. Grace Napolitano (CA-32)
Rep. Brenda Lawrence (MI-14)
Rep. Cheri Bustos (IL-17)

State & City Officials

Lieutenant Governor Ralph Northam (D-VA)
Attorney General Josh Shapiro (D-PA)
Attorney General Bob Ferguson (D-WA)
Treasurer Joe Torsella (D-PA)
Mayor Levar Stoney (Richmond, VA)
Mayor Ed Murray (Seattle, WA)
Public Advocate Letitia James (New York, NY)

Competitive Intelligence

Google
Puget Sound Energy
7-Eleven

Communications Workers of America
American Medical Response

Environmental Defense Fund
The Atlantic Foundation
The Colorado Public Employees’ Retirement Assoc.

We lead; others follow.

We’re constantly honing our offerings given the changing needs of modern-day campaigns, organizations and corporations. We deliver smart research in a format our clients can immediately use. The old research model was to develop a hefty research book and hand it off with a handshake and a smile. Not us. At Jones Mandel, we go steps beyond delivering raw data.

Meet the Key Members of the Jones Mandel Team

Benjamin JonesCEO and Partner

Benjamin is the CEO and co-founder of Jones Mandel. Based in Seattle, WA, Jones is a veteran strategist with 23 years of experience working on statewide, Congressional, local and issue campaigns across 46 states from Washington to Maine.

As a consultant, he is passionate about running a great company where employees are empowered, deadlines are met, clients are taken care of and problems are solved. All that + high quality research deliverables.

A native of Georgia, Benjamin worked for a Governor and two Senators in his home state before moving to Washington, DC to complete a masters degree at George Washington University. Post graduate school, Jones stayed in DC for 12 years working at various campaigns and organizations including: MD Governor Parris Glendening, League of Conservation Voters, the DSCC and EMILY’s List. From 2001-2006, Ben split his time between the DSCC and EMILY’s List working to elect Democrats around the country. In both organizations, he ran the research operations, assessed candidates and advised campaigns on management, message and strategy.

Ben started his consulting practice in 2007, first with Hildebrand Tewes, then New Partners and now at Jones Mandel. Across the last 10 years, Ben has built a highly reputable research practice, working for the country’s top Democratic political leaders, national political committees, prominent issue groups, labor unions, high-profile corporations, non-profits and foundations.

Under Ben’s leadership, JM has helped elect six current U.S. Senators, six current Governors, numerous U.S. House Members and many local leaders.

Since 2009, Benjamin has called Seattle home with his wife Alyson, kids and dog Mudd. He has spent a great deal of time researching how much it actually rains in Seattle. Just ask him, he will tell you. Ben holds an MA from George Washington University and a BA from Presbyterian College.

Ian MandelCOO and Partner

Ian is a founding partner of Jones Mandel. He has over a decade of experience working in research, communications and message development for political candidates, Democratic Party organizations, corporations and non-profits.

Ian has advised dozens of political and corporate clients, doing political work in more than 30 states and collaborating closely with groups such as the Democratic National Committee and the Democratic Governors Association. He has helped elect some of the Democratic Party’s top leaders, including Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf and U.S. Senator Cory Booker.

In 2014, Ian was one of the earliest strategists brought on to help former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton prepare for a 2016 presidential campaign. After a year of overseeing research efforts for Secretary Clinton, Ian interviewed, hired and set up what would become the core of the Clinton campaign’s research department.

In 2015 and 2016, Ian worked closely with the Clinton campaign and the Democratic National Committee on opposition research strategy, designing and overseeing the extensive, nationwide public record research on Donald Trump. Ian and his team investigated nearly every aspect of Donald Trump’s business empire, helping uncover tens-of-thousands of pages of never-before-seen public records used extensively during the campaign. Ian also trained dozens of record collectors dispatched throughout the country to pull court records on Trump and his businesses, an effort unprecedented in its size and scope.

Ian is a veteran of Capitol Hill and EMILY’s List. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Government with honors from Hamilton College. Ian and his family live in Alexandria, Virginia.

Emma BlakeAssociate

Emma conducts research to help clients and campaigns assess vulnerabilities and inform strategy. Previously, Emma worked in Corporate Strategy at Capital One and then spent three months interning for a Democratic House Member on the Hill. Emma grew up just outside of Scranton, Pennsylvania and graduated from Brown University in 2015 with a degree in Human Biology & Health Policy. She now lives in the Park View neighborhood of Washington, D.C.

Alex FriedmanAssociate

Alex conducts research on clients and their opponents to help inform campaign strategy. Previously, he interned at the Democratic National Committee for the duration of the 2016 general election and Senator Sherrod Brown. Alex graduated from American University in Washington D.C. with degrees in History and International Studies. He grew up in Cleveland, Ohio and now lives in Washington, D.C.

Nate GilmanDirector

Nate is an experienced research consultant with experience working with candidates for Governor, U.S. Senate, the U.S. House of Representatives and State Legislatures across the country. Through his detailed research, Nate helps our clients identify and craft strong messages and respond to their opposition. In addition to his work with candidates, Nate has helped independent expenditure efforts, non-profits, unions, and advocacy groups use strategic research to assess their vulnerabilities and strengths, and those of their opponents. Nate received his Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from the University of Richmond. He grew up in Cincinnati, OH, and lives in Washington, DC.

Chris HaxoAssociate

Chris does opposition and self research for clients, providing them with insight to help them gain a competitive advantage. In the 2016 cycle, Chris worked at the Democratic National Committee as a Research Associate, and as a Tracker for the Iowa Democratic Party. Chris studied Politics at Willamette University in Salem, Oregon, where he also interned in the Oregon State Legislature and on a state house campaign. He grew up in California’s Bay Area and lives in Virginia.

Kylie LipinskiDirector

Kylie has several years of experience working with top federal and statewide campaigns on highly competitive races. She assesses clients’ potential vulnerabilities and provides strategic research to highlight their opponents’ weaknesses. As a research consultant, Kylie has helped elect numerous candidates, including three Governors, a United States Senator, three U.S. Representatives and other top statewide officials. She has also helped structure and lead high-level vetting operations for three sitting Governors.

Kylie previously worked as a researcher for U.S. Senator Bob Casey and contributed to the reelection of Congressman Bill Owens in New York’s 21st congressional district. She graduated from Haverford College with a B.A. in Political Science and now lives in Virginia.

Brian NicholsAssociate

Brian performs research for clients on themselves, their opponents, and other relevant parties to help our clients identify vulnerabilities and produce winning messages. In the 2016 cycle, Brian worked as a Research Associate at the Atlas Project, where he also performed opposition research. He has also done humanitarian research for EPIC, a nonprofit focused on education in Iraq.

Brian has his bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Washington University in St. Louis. Brian has roots in Missouri and Massachusetts, and now lives in Washington, D.C.

Will SchwartzAssociate

Will conducts self and opposition research for political and issue-based clients to help inform campaign strategy. Will has previous experience as an intern on Capitol Hill, including in Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer’s Press Office, and as an Organizer for Hillary Clinton’s Presidential Campaign in Pennsylvania during the 2016 Presidential Election. Will grew up In Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania and graduated from Middlebury College with a B.A. in History. He now lives in Washington D.C.

Lauren SmithDirector

Lauren is an experienced opposition researcher and vetter. Prior to joining Jones Mandel, she served as the Research Director for the Obama White House’s Office of Presidential Personnel (PPO) from 2015 through 2017. In this capacity, she helped vet individuals under consideration for high-profile Presidential appointments throughout the federal government and trained PPO staff on background vetting.

In 2014 and 2015, she served as the Deputy Research Director for Rapid Response for the Democratic National Committee (DNC). Prior to that, she served as the Northeast Regional Research Analyst for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, where she provided strategic research and policy guidance to over 20 top-tier congressional campaigns.

In the 2012 cycle, Lauren served as Deputy Research Director for Tim Kaine’s Senate campaign in Richmond, Virginia. She previously worked for Kaine in the Chairman’s Office at the DNC.

She began her career at Struble Eichenbaum Communications, a media consulting firm that produced television and radio ads for Democratic candidates.

Lauren is excited to be a part of the Jones Mandel team and looks forward to helping elect Democrats.

Emma StallworthyAssociate

Emma conducts opposition and self research for clients to help guide campaign strategy and messaging. Previously, Emma worked with the Citizen Participation team at the National Democratic Institute in Washington, and interned at a research institute in Buenos Aires and an immigrant advocacy nonprofit in Seattle. Emma graduated from Middlebury College in 2017 with a degree in Political Science. She is from Bainbridge Island, Washington and currently lives in Washington, D.C.

Lisa SwansonAssociate

Lisa provides clients with political intelligence to identify the facts, figures and information needed to produce clear and factual message narratives. Her work helps our clients such as – Democrats running for office or progressive issue groups – outline the facts for their message and helps inform their campaign strategy.

Lisa previously worked as a Communication Associate at an education nonprofit and interned for Rep. Duckworth and Senator Durbin. Originally from Illinois, Lisa received her bachelor’s degree in Political Science from St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minnesota.

Kendall WitmerSenior Associate

Kendall helps clients assess their strengths and weaknesses – as well as those of their opponents. As a research associate, she has contributed to many successful statewide and national campaigns. In addition to her work with candidates, she has experience working with advocacy groups and ballot initiatives. She previously interned for Link Strategies, a political consulting firm in Des Moines, Iowa. She has her bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Applied Statistics from the University of Michigan. Kendall has roots in Iowa, Chicago and Connecticut. She now lives in Washington, D.C.

Chanelle YangSenior Associate

Chanelle advises political, issue-based, and corporate clients on their strengths and vulnerabilities and those of their opponents via strategic research and public records investigation. As a research associate, she has worked on state, federal, and international campaigns. Previously, she organized and coordinated labor rights campaigns involving unions, advocacy groups, and workers domestically and abroad. Chanelle obtained a B.S. in Public Policy & Law from the University of Southern California. Born and raised in the Golden State, she is a proud San Francisco Bay Area native and currently lives in Alexandria, Virginia.

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Intelligence & Strategy to Empower Your Next Move

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