About
The 270 Project
Independent political analysis focused on the Electoral College, congressional power, and the forces shaping American elections.
Why We Exist
American elections are decided by a small number of states, a handful of Senate seats, and margins that can be measured in thousands of votes. The 270 Project exists to make that landscape legible — to cut through the noise of daily campaign coverage and focus on the structural forces that actually determine who governs.
We are not a polling aggregator, a prediction market, or a partisan outlet. We are an analytical publication. Our work draws on demographic data, historical voting patterns, legislative records, and electoral geography to explain how power is distributed and contested in the United States.
The name comes from the number of Electoral College votes required to win the presidency. It is a reminder that American democracy operates through institutions and rules — not just sentiment — and that understanding those rules is the first step toward understanding the outcomes they produce.
How We Work
Primary sources first
Our analysis begins with official data: certified election results from state and county canvasses, U.S. Census Bureau demographic surveys, Federal Election Commission filings, and congressional vote records. We do not rely on secondary summaries when primary sources are available.
Historical context over hot takes
Every election is compared against the long arc of American electoral history. We resist the temptation to declare every cycle unprecedented. When something genuinely is unusual, we say so — and we show the data that supports that claim.
Uncertainty is acknowledged, not hidden
Political analysis involves genuine uncertainty. We distinguish between what the data shows, what it suggests, and what remains genuinely unknown. We do not manufacture false confidence to make our analysis sound more authoritative.
Geography and demography together
Electoral outcomes are shaped by where people live as much as by what they believe. Our analysis integrates geographic and demographic data — county-level shifts, urban-rural divides, generational change — rather than treating the electorate as a uniform national mass.
Editorial Standards
The 270 Project does not endorse candidates, parties, or ballot measures. Our analysis describes and explains electoral dynamics; it does not advocate for particular outcomes.
When we make projections or assessments — such as labeling a state 'lean Republican' or 'toss-up' — those judgments are based on publicly available data and stated methodology, not private polling or partisan preference. We update our assessments when new data warrants it and explain what changed.
Corrections are issued promptly and transparently. If an error affects a material claim in a published piece, we note the correction at the top of the article with a description of what was changed and why.
We do not accept advertising from political campaigns, PACs, or advocacy organizations. Our editorial independence is not for sale.