Christine Matthews, President, Bellwether Research

Christine Matthews spoke at the February 2024 training session. She is a leading public opinion pollster known for her understanding of swing voters, particularly women. She has conducted political polling at every level and nationally, including for numerous Super PACs supporting candidates for president and Congress. The research she directed on behalf of Maryland Governor Larry Hogan’s re-election campaign was highlighted as key to his success among women voters. As one of the expert contributors to the Center for American Women in Politics & Barbara Lee Family Foundation’s GenderWatch project, Matthews analyzed gender dynamics in the 2018 and 2020 election cycles. She is also one of the pollsters conducting cutting edge research on how voters perceive women candidates. In 2022, she was part of a bipartisan team conducting “She’s the Difference” research on behalf of AARP which was focused on the priorities and electoral importance of women 50 and older. In 2014, Campaigns & Elections magazine named her as one of their top 50 influencers shaping campaigns and the future of the industry.

Matthews work focuses on organizations and elected officials who support democracy, civility and bipartisanship, and responsible governance. Her advocacy and issue work for a wide range of clients focuses on topics such as health care and well-being, education, children and family policies, land use, energy and the environment, women in the workplace, and infrastructure.

She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Indiana University and a Master of Arts in Liberal Studies from Georgetown University. She is a member of the American Association for Public Opinion Research.