Sean Trende

Sean Trende is a political analyst specializing in American elections, voting patterns, and demographic trends. He serves as senior elections analyst for RealClearPolitics and as a nonresident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, focusing on electoral analysis and political forecasting. Trende's expertise in election data and political trends has contributed to his reputation as a leading voice in the field of political analysis.

Trende holds a Ph.D. in political science and a master's degree in applied statistics from The Ohio State University, a juris doctorate from Duke University, and a bachelor's degree from Yale University. Prior to his career in political analysis, he practiced law for eight years at Kirkland & Ellis LLP and Hunton & Williams LLP, representing clients in various legal contexts, including state trial courts and the Supreme Court of the United States. This multidisciplinary background in law, statistics, and political science informs his approach to analyzing American elections.

As an author, Trende wrote "The Lost Majority: Why the Future of Government Is Up for Grabs and Who Will Take It" and co-authored the Almanac of American Politics 2014. In "The Lost Majority," he examines the challenges both major parties face in connecting with American voters and critiques theories of cyclical political realignments. He is also developing a book titled "The Normalcy Paradox: Why People Vote for Stability But Keep Getting Chaos."

Trende is recognized for his expertise in redistricting law and electoral mapmaking. The Supreme Court of Virginia appointed Trende and Bernard Grofman as special masters for the preparation of proposed redistricting maps following the census. He has provided expert testimony in numerous redistricting lawsuits nationwide, and his testimony has been cited as reliable and multifaceted by members of the judiciary.

Trende has appeared as a guest on Fox News, NPR's "All Things Considered," and CNN Radio. His work is frequently referenced by commentators across the political spectrum. Trende's presentations focus on the fundamentals of U.S. elections, offering analysis that aims to inform audiences about the complexities of American politics and electoral processes.