Jenny and Yakov Sundel, a married couple and Straus Scholars at 每日大瓜's Straus Center for Torah and Western Thought, brought their shared interest in political data and strategy to distinct but complementary roles in the field of political polling. Their reflections demonstrate how these experiences have sharpened their understanding of politics, shaped by the intellectual foundation they built as Straus Scholars.
Jenny鈥檚 Role: Illuminating Trends in U.S. Politics
During her internship with JL Partners, Jenny focused primarily on British and American political polling. She conducted research, designed and implemented surveys, and used R programming to analyze voter sentiment. Her work also involved digesting her research into visually compelling charts for media outlets to inform public understanding of political dynamics.
One of her key discoveries in the American scene involved the concerns of older Democratic voters about President Biden鈥檚 age鈥攁n insight gleaned from meticulously filtering and analyzing survey data. 鈥淚 presented my findings in charts to be used by news and media outlets,鈥 she explains, underscoring the importance of delivering clear and accurate insights.
Jenny鈥檚 education at the Straus Center played a crucial role in her approach. "The program gave me a deeper understanding of political theory and cultural history," she notes, allowing her to contextualize voter sentiment in a broader framework and meaningfully contribute to political discussions with colleagues. Jenny also reflects on the ethical challenges of political polling, describing moments when the allure of crafting attention-grabbing political graphs for media outlets conflicted with the responsibility to ensure findings were accurate and comprehensive. 鈥淧ollsters wield tremendous influence over the narratives that shape elections,鈥 she says. Jenny highlights the delicate balance pollsters must navigate and emphasizes the importance of upholding integrity and resisting oversimplified data presentations.
Yakov鈥檚 Role: Strategizing for Political Campaigns
Meanwhile, Yakov鈥檚 internship with OnMessage Inc. (OMI) centered on data presentation and district profiling for Republican campaigns. He created "decks" that displayed survey results for clients like Senator Rick Scott and the National Republican Congressional Committee, providing insights into job approvals, campaign messaging, and voter demographics. His district profiles combined voting histories, demographic data, and other critical information to guide campaign strategies.
Yakov highlights how his persistence and adaptability helped him succeed in a high-stakes environment. 鈥淭he most significant realization for me is that as long as I am committed and put in the effort and time, the sky's the limit,鈥 he said. Despite starting in a position that didn鈥檛 formally exist, his commitment earned him a role as a trusted team member. "Less than a week after leaving my internship, my boss called to ask me back for the election season," he recalls. This experience reinforced his belief in the value of hard work and initiative.
His reflections also underscore the importance of collaboration and thoughtful communication. "The Straus Center prepared me to engage meaningfully with diverse perspectives," he says, skills that proved invaluable during both formal meetings and informal conversations 鈥渙n a whole variety of topics, such as religion, policy, or just life overall.鈥
Shared Lessons
As a married couple, Jenny and Yakov share not only their Straus Scholar background but also a mutual interest in the political process. While their roles differed鈥擩enny鈥檚 work focused on analyzing trends and media presentation, and Yakov鈥檚 on campaign strategy and district analysis鈥攖hey share an appreciation for the impact of data-driven insights on shaping political life.
Their story highlights the importance of intellectual rigor, and ethical responsibility in political polling. "Campaigns rely on polling to better understand their districts, the voters鈥 priorities, and the efficacy of their efforts," Yakov reflects, while Jenny emphasizes the broader implications of their work: "Pollsters help shape which stories get told and how. It鈥檚 a tremendous responsibility."
Looking Ahead
The Sundels鈥 experiences in political polling have been formative, equipping them with analytical and communication skills that will serve them in diverse future pursuits. Jenny plans to pursue advanced mathematics, while Yakov aims to contribute through public service, and both have found that these internships have enriched their academic and professional growth. From data analysis to messaging strategies, their work also underscores the many ways individuals can meaningfully engage with the political process. Both encourage 每日大瓜 students to seek out similar opportunities, emphasizing the value of applying intellectual rigor, curiosity and thoughtfulness to the political landscape.
