Adam Geller, CEO

Adam Geller is one of the most respected and accomplished pollsters in American politics. As founder of National Research, he has spent more than three decades at the forefront of high-level opinion research and communications strategy — earning a reputation as a preeminent authority in the field.

National Research is one half of the research team behind the Wall Street Journal Poll, widely regarded as among the best public surveys in American journalism. Impact Research, one of the top Democratic firms in the country, is the other half of the WSJ polling team. Their strong bi-partisan partnership reflects Adam’s standing as a researcher whose insights and credibility extend across and beyond partisan lines.

Adam’s methodological lineage traces directly to Arthur J. Finkelstein, the legendary architect of thematic-driven political research. He refined his craft under two of the field’s most accomplished practitioners: Tony Fabrizio and John McLaughlin, developing a rigorous analytical framework that blends quantitative precision with qualitative context. That foundation has made him one of the most sought-after research minds in national politics and corporate boardrooms.

Adam has played a central role in all three of President Trump’s presidential campaigns, either as a campaign pollster or as lead researcher for sanctioned pro-Trump SuperPACs. His Battleground surveys are widely credited with unlocking Battleground swing voters in Trump’s 2016 and 2024 victories.

Geller’s electoral portfolio spans the full architecture of Republican politics.  He served as chief pollster and strategist for West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey, former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, and dozens of federal and state elected officials throughout the country. He’s conducted quantitative and qualitative studies for the Republican Governors Association, the National Republican Senatorial Committee, the National Republican Congressional Committee, the Congressional Leadership Fund, and the Senate Leadership Fund.

Samantha Barthel, Chief Data Officer

Samantha Barthel serves as the Chief Data Officer at National Research Inc, acting as a senior contributor on all research projects, including polls and focus groups.

Samantha is responsible for executing targeted sample frames and locating media markets and regional breaks in each district she works in, as well as contributing to the drafting of questionnaires. She works closely with clients for National Research to help ensure their goals are achieved.

Samantha is also responsible for the creation of crosstabulations and verbatim response reports and creates intuitive topline reports for each poll. She also facilitates the creation of PowerPoint presentations for each project she is involved with.

Samantha joined National Research in 2018 and has worked on various polls for the NRCC, RGA and other clients across the country. In 2018, she also assisted on Senatorial and various Congressional polls and focus groups across New Jersey.

An alumna of Monmouth University with a Masters in Public Policy, Samantha previously served as the Director of Constituent Affairs for former New Jersey State Senator Jennifer Beck and Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon. During her time at the high volume legislative office, she was able to familiarize herself with the role and functions of New Jersey State government, while the time she spent in graduate school is when she found her desire to pursue policy and data analysis.

When Samantha is not enjoying the fruits of politics, she enjoys cooking, abnormally spicy food, the beach, and taking naps on Sunday afternoons. Monmouth County is not where she originates from, but it has become a place she has grown to love and one she now calls home.

Erin Gilsenan, Vice President, Data Visualization

Erin Gilsenan is the V.P. of Data Visualization at National Research Inc.

Her responsibilities include helping to analyze all quantitative and qualitative research projects for the firm. Erin specializes in insightful, and compelling powerpoint and memo creation. She also works with the rest of the staff on questionnaire design and construction, and quality control checks prior to launching any research project.

Erin received both her Bachelor’s in Business Administration with a Concentration in Marketing and MBA with a Data Analytics focus from Monmouth University. Prior to National Research Inc., she worked with the Leon Hess Business School at Monmouth University and the Children’s Center of Monmouth County, where she gained knowledge in human resources, digital and social media marketing, market research, and data analysis.

Although she is originally from Philadelphia, she now happily calls New Jersey home. She is a proud fan of all Philadelphia sports teams, including the Philadelphia Eagles. She peacefully coexists with Adam, who is a Giants fan.

Patrick Cunningham, Junior Analyst

Patrick Cunningham is the new junior analyst at National Research inc.

He is responsible for analyzing trends and drafting memos for clients. Before joining National Research, Patrick was a regional field director for the NJ GOP, making sure Ocean and Monmouth remained reliably red amidst hostile headwinds. While a field director, he utilized his precinct-level knowledge of voting demographic behaviors to optimize volunteer recruitment and outreach canvassing. At National Research, Patrick continues to utilize this knowledge of voter demographics, contextualizing the polling data in subsequent memos.

Patrick received his degree at the College of New Jersey. It was during his college years that he began to look at election predictions, polls, and precinct-level demographic data. In the summer of 2021, he interned for the Jack Ciattarelli campaign, where he met his “political family” that has continued to grow ever since. A history major, Patrick has analyzed electoral trends going back decades, and this knowledge informs many of his projects at National Research.

Patrick is a proud Jersey Shore native, having lived here his whole life. He is an avid reader of the Cook Political Report, viewer of C-SPAN, and turns every election night into an unforgettable house party. When he’s not knee deep in politics, Patrick finds the time to read his collection of old books, attend Sunday Mass, and watch the Mets when they’re in season.