SMART, DATA-DRIVEN
WINNING CAMPAIGNS
Over 50 years ago, Mark Grebner founded a small voter data firm in East Lansing that relied on data meticulously entered by hand on mainframe computers rented from MSU in the wee hours of the morning. His clients were provided voter lists produced using dot matrix printers on 4 x 6 inch, perforated notecards. Times have certainly changed but our firm - and Grebner's desire - to maintain the most accurate voter file in Michigan endures. In fact, we've invested millions of dollars in building and maintaining the file that wins the most elections in Michigan.
"​The Grebner List" as it is commonly known, has played a major role in electing candidates running for nearly every office in Michigan. Over five decades, the success stories are in the hundreds, with clients past and present walking the halls of the state Capitol, serving as mayors and county commissioners, school board members, and even making it all the way to the White House.
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But great voter lists isn't all we've become known for as one of Michigan's longest running, most established political consulting firms.
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As a full-service political consulting firm, we are able to assist serious candidates and organizations with nearly all their needs to run effective, successful campaigns. Further, we are proud of the many partnerships we've built across Michigan that allow our clients the ability to tap in to a vast network of campaign specialists and practitioners, only available to PPD clients.
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We're in the business of finding the unique potential in every campaign, creating a narrative, and leading the discussion in the public by working with our clients to effectively tell their stories to the right voters using a holistic approach that combines the best voter data possible with the smart campaign strategies.
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STEVE ROSS
MARK GREBNER
1973, he realized the most valuable contribution he could make would be to convert the campaigns' paper records into computerized data, using what he had learned in his computer programming classes. At that time - 50 years ago - that meant keypunching the names, addresses, and numbers onto punched cards which could be mechanically sorted and then printed onto mailing labels.
A few years later, Grebner realized he could apply his statistical coursework to building models that predicted the voting behavior of each voter, using publicly available information such as their demographics and voting history.
By 1983, he began to apply political science and his knowledge of Michigan law to craft a deep understanding of the process by which voters reach their decisions, and the ways campaigns can intervene to affect those decisions in their own favor.
Since then, Grebner has developed a national reputation as an expert in modeling voter behavior, including the creation of powerful new get-out-the-vote techniques.
Beginning in 1972, Mark Grebner began volunteering in political campaigns on the MSU campus, where he was an undergraduate. By
"THE KEEPERS OF THE BEST LISTS IN MICHIGAN"
- THE NEW YORK TIMES
Practical Political Data provides campaigns with accurate lists of voters in their community that are likely to vote in a given election. Some of our data points include name, address, phone number, donor history, likelihood of being a Democrat or Republican, likelihood of voting by absentee ballot, information like organization memberships, occupation, and issue support, and much more. We offer a range of data packages to fit the needs and price point of any campaign.
OUR WINNING FORMULA
STORY + VOTER CONTACT + DATA
No two political campaigns are alike. That's why we take the time to get to know you and your team, your voters, and your community. Then, together, develop a winning plan and work with you to execute through Election Day.
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We believe in running campaigns that employ a healthy reliance on modern campaign tools, proven techniques that have withstood the test of time, captive storytelling across varying mediums, and access to the absolute best voter targeting data in Michigan to win our elections.
GENERAL CAMPAIGN STRATEGY
From creating an all-encompassing campaign plan to regular check in calls, we are there for you when you need us.
FIELD STRATEGY
Field is where our heart is. An aggressive field element is a key component to any voter contact strategy. It's what we do best and how you'll win.
FUNDRAISING
STRATEGY
Political campaigns are expensive. We work with our clients to create strategies to raise the funds necessary to succeed, ensuring they never have to cut corners.
More than ever, campaigns must pay special attention to early voters. For years, we've been working with successful campaigns to win this important vote.
TV & WEB AD PLACEMENT
A mix of engaging short and long form, produced and live, video provides voters with a unique view of a candidate and are an important storytelling piece of any successful campaign. Additionally, for just pennies, we can target ads to voters across social media and the internet.
We've designed hundreds of pieces of unique, eye-catching mail over the years that have landed in millions of Michigan mailboxes.
MESSAGE
DEVELOPMENT
Effectively telling your story - experience, values, plans -
is key to connecting with voters and earning their trust and support.
Having an appealing campaign website to amplify your storytelling and message is key to communicating with voters.
PARTNERS
We've built strong relationships with photographers, film producers, union printers and mailhouses, researchers, legal experts, and others to build a team to provide
top-notch services to our clients.