About Smart Politics

Smart Politics is a non-partisan political news site authored and founded in 2006 by Dr. Eric Ostermeier with support from the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School of Public Affairs and Center for the Study of Politics and Governance (CSPG). If you have any questions about Smart Politics please contact the author.

Pioneering data journalism more than a decade ago, Smart Politics publishes original, data-driven reporting and analysis of public policy, campaigns, and elections for Minnesota, Upper Midwestern, and national politics. Supported by the Humphrey School, Smart Politics complements the wide array of public events and programs convened by CSPG and the Humphrey School to promote and develop a more informed and engaged citizenry.

Smart Politics is published by the University of Minnesota Libraries and was redesigned in August 2020 by John Barneson (Publishing Services Developer) and Shane Nackerud (Co-Interim Director of Content Services & Technology Lead, Libraries Initiatives).

Smart Politics header image of the Minnesota State Capitol courtesy of flickr user tboard and used under a Creative Commons license. Graphic design by Kelly Clarke.

What luminaries and news outlets are saying about Smart Politics…
“Fantastic. Truly high-end to feed political addiction.”
– Chuck Todd, NBC News Political Director
“A super-nerdy (and very cool) site.”
– Chris Cillizza, CNN
“The master of obscure political stats…An endless goldmine for political nerds. Eric is a national treasure.”
– Reid Wilson, The Hill
“A political junkie’s political junkie.”
– Ken Rudin, Ken Rudin’s Political Junkie
“That blog isn’t called Smart Politics for nothing.”
– POLITICO
“I see a lot of work, and Dr. Ostermeier’s is absolutely among the best, most imaginative, and most prolific out there. He is very nimble, and his work very useful.”
– Jennifer Harper, Inside the Beltway columnist, The Washington Times
“A favorite read for data-minded politics geeks.”
– Palm Beach Post
“I love this study! Wow!”
– Chris Matthews, MSNBC Hardball host
Named to the two most recent editions of The Fix’s best state-based political blog list at the Washington Post.
“Insightful.”
– U.S. News & World Report
“Influential.”
– New York Post
“Indispensable….Smart Politics is the best, folks.”
– Jon Ralston, The Nevada Independent
“Outstanding.”
– Rapid City Journal
“Smart Politics is by far the best Minnesota political blog. I check it every day and encounter much good information and analysis that I can get nowhere else.”
– Steven E. Schier, Professor of Political Science, Carleton College