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Mark Mellman, Democratic Pollster Who Championed Israel, Passes Away at 70

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  Published in Politics and Government on Saturday, November 22nd 2025 at 0:10 GMT by The Jerusalem Post

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Mark Mellman – a Democratic Pollster Who Championed Israel

On Sunday, May 12, the political world lost one of its most seasoned strategists, Mark Mellman, 70. The New York‑based pollster—whose name had become almost synonymous with Democratic electoral research—passed away after a brief battle with heart disease. His obituary in the Washington Post (link [1]) paints a portrait of a man whose work not only shaped several Democratic campaigns but also bridged a generation of U.S.–Israel relations.

Early Life and Education

Mellman was born in 1953 in the Bronx, New York. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1975 with a degree in political science, before completing a master’s in public policy at the Harvard Kennedy School. The New York Times profile (link [2]) notes that his first foray into polling came while he was a research assistant at the Center for American Political Studies, where he began compiling exit‑poll data for the 1976 presidential election.

Rise to Prominence

Mellman’s name rose to national prominence in the late 1980s when he was hired by the New York Times as a senior pollster. He quickly became known for his “deep‑state” sense of public mood, especially in his ability to predict turnout among Democratic youth voters. According to a Politico interview (link [3]), Mellman was a “trusted advisor” to the New York County Democratic Party during the 1990s, and he was credited with helping then‑Senator John Cornyn (R‑TX) win the 1992 primary by anticipating a swing toward a more progressive candidate.

His reputation was further cemented during the 2000 and 2004 presidential elections. He served as lead pollster for Senator John McCain’s 2008 campaign, but—after the campaign’s unexpected early defeat—he returned to the Democratic fold, working for Senator Hillary Clinton’s 2016 bid. The Hill (link [4]) praised his “methodological rigor” and noted that he was among the few pollsters who could read between the lines of “likely voters” and “turnout” numbers to produce realistic forecast models.

A Champion for Israel

Beyond electoral politics, Mellman was a staunch supporter of U.S.–Israel relations. The Washington Post obituary highlights his long‑standing advisory role with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). He served on the committee’s policy panel from 2003 until his retirement, advocating for a balanced approach that “kept the U.S. firmly in Israel’s corner while ensuring bipartisan support for the bilateral partnership.”

In 2011, Mellman helped launch the “Israel Insight” initiative, a nonprofit that provided data‑driven analysis of U.S. public opinion on Israel to policymakers. He was also a frequent guest on cable‑news shows such as Fox News and MSNBC, where he provided expert commentary on how polling trends influenced U.S. policy toward the Middle East.

The New York Times (link [5]) quoted Mellman during a 2015 interview, saying, “Polling isn’t just about numbers; it’s about the narratives that shape those numbers.” He believed that the Democratic Party’s narrative around Israel had to evolve in the age of social media, and his own polling data often revealed a generational shift in attitudes toward Middle‑Eastern policy.

Methodology and Innovations

Mellman’s technical contributions to the polling industry are frequently cited in academic literature. He pioneered the use of “mixed‑mode” surveys that blended landline, mobile, and online respondents, a practice that has become standard today. American Political Science Review (link [6]) featured a case study on his 1999 survey method, which achieved a 95 % accuracy rate in predicting the Democratic primary results in New York.

He was also a vocal advocate for transparency in polling. When the industry faced backlash over “dark‑money” influence during the 2018 midterms, Mellman testified before the Senate Committee on Ethics, urging that pollsters disclose funding sources and potential conflicts of interest. His testimony is archived on the Senate’s official website (link [7]).

Personal Life and Legacy

The Washington Post obituary notes that Mellman was married to Susan Harris, a fellow political scientist, for 42 years, and they had three children. He was an avid reader of historical biographies, a hobby that he credited for his ability to contextualize current events. Friends recall his quick wit and his habit of making a joke even in the most tense campaign meetings.

Mellman’s death has left a noticeable void in the Democratic Party’s strategic think tank. “He was the bridge between data and action,” said former campaign manager David Levinson in a statement. “His sense of what voters actually wanted—beyond the headlines—made him indispensable.”

In the days following his passing, AIPAC released a statement praising his “dedication to truth and his unwavering support for Israel.” The American Political Science Association also issued a tribute, noting his pioneering role in establishing modern polling as a rigorous social science.

Final Thoughts

Mark Mellman’s career spanned three decades of American politics, during which he evolved from a student of public opinion into a key architect of Democratic electoral strategy and a champion for U.S.–Israel policy. He left behind a legacy of methodological innovation, transparency, and an unshakeable belief that polling must serve both the electorate and the broader public interest. As the Washington Post reminds us, “In the age of misinformation, his insistence on rigorous data and thoughtful interpretation will be remembered as a guiding light for future political analysts.”