By Evelyn Limberg, Staff Writer

From canvassing neighborhoods to analyzing voter trends, Xavier students took an active role in the 2026 midterm elections in working alongside local political campaigns. 

Through an internship opportunity, students were able to select candidates to work with and gain firsthand experience in the different responsibilities involved in running a political campaign. 

After selecting their respective campaigns, students met with candidates and campaign representatives to learn about their goals, strategies and expectations. Throughout election season, students participated in canvassing, attended campaign events, spoke with voters and helped develop ideas to support their candidates. 

The experience allowed students to see how campaigns operate beyond what they learn in the classroom. From communicating with constituents to helping shape campaign strategies, students took on responsibilities that allowed them to become directly involved in the electoral process. 

Tommy Quail, a sophomore data science major, participated in both campaign outreach and classroom-based research.  

“My role was helping the candidates through canvassing as well as attending other events,” Quail said. 

One of the primary areas of research involved comparing early voting data from the 2026 election with previous election cycles, specifically the 2022 midterm and 2024 presidential elections. 

Quail said he was surprised by how closely early voting patterns appeared to follow those of the 2024 presidential election rather than the previous midterm election. 

“Since 2022 was the last midterm election, we would have expected it to be closer to that, but it was closer to 2024, which was a presidential year,” Quail said. 

The research offered students an opportunity to apply their data science coursework to real-world political trends. However, the timing of the project presented some challenges when it came to sharing the findings with campaigns. 

“By the time we had something to show, there was less than a month left,” Quail said. 

Although the research was not widely distributed to campaigns, Quail said the Karen Brownlee campaign had expressed interest in the class’s work. Brownlee ran for state representative and won her reelection. 

In addition to their work throughout the campaign season, students participated in Election Day activities. Students worked at polling locations, distributing campaign slate cards to voters, which helped candidates maintain visibility through the final hours of the election. 

Some students also had the opportunity to appear on a local news broadcast, where they discussed their experiences working with campaigns and provided insight into the races they had been involved with. 

For students studying politics and related disciplines, the experience offered a chance to connect academic interests with the practical realities of campaigning. Working alongside candidates provided exposure to voter outreach, political communication and the strategies involved in reaching constituents. 

The opportunity also brought together students from different academic backgrounds, demonstrating the variety of ways students can contribute to political campaigns. Whether through data analysis, canvassing or campaign consultation, students experienced different aspects of the election process firsthand.