Harper Polling is the boutique polling firm with a national reputation. We specialize in research that explores and explains public opinion for decision-makers across many industries. Our exceptional accuracy and analysis is sought out by campaigns, public policy organizations, and companies to help guide their strategic planning and marketing.
Founded with the vision of applying cutting-edge methodologies to improve the quality and cost-effectiveness of modern survey research. As a boutique firm, all aspects of research are performed by the company’s leadership. Our structure is the product of our own conscientious nature and the high level of engagement and responsibility we bring to clients and projects.
Harper Polling has enjoyed substantial growth and a winning track record since its founding in 2012, conducting hundreds of surveys in over 40 states and nationally. Our data and strategic insight has helped elect Members of Congress, grown company sales, and guided successful advocacy and marketing campaigns across the country.
Harper President Brock McCleary is a nationally-recognized pollster and strategist. Prior to founding Harper, Brock served as the Polling Director and Deputy Political Director for the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) as Republicans won historic majorities in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2010 and 2012. In 2014 and 2016, Brock served as Senior Advisor to the NRCC for political landscape evaluation and resource allocation. The firm’s namesake is Brock’s daughter Harper.
Brock McCleary, President
Brock McCleary serves as pollster and consultant to Members of Congress, nonpartisan public policy groups, trade associations and businesses across the country. The firm’s namesake is Brock’s daughter Harper.
Brock previously served as Polling Director and Deputy Political Director Director at the National Republican Campaign Committee (NRCC). During his time as a House Republican campaign strategist, the NRCC picked up 63 seats in the House of Representatives in 2010, the largest gain since 1948, and secured the two largest majorities for Congressional Republicans since World War II.
In 2012, Brock was responsible for the Republican House campaigns challenging sitting Democratic incumbents. On Election Day 2012, President Obama was comfortably reelected and 13 Republican Congressmen were defeated. Despite that, 10 Republican challenger campaigns surprisingly defeated sitting Democrats to help preserve the GOP’s majority in the House of Representatives.
From 2014-2016, Brock served as a Senior Advisor to the NRCC for Independent Expenditure resource allocation in races across the country. In 2017, Brock was the General Consultant for the NRCC’s victorious $8 million Independent Expenditure in Georgia’s 6th Congressional District, the most expensive special election in history. In 2018, Harper Polling helped Minnesota Congressman Jim Hagedorn become one of only two Republican challengers to win a Democratic-held seat in the mid-term elections.
Under Brock’s direction, Harper Polling conducts polls for public release in high-profile races, with a noteworthy record of success. Harper Polling was the only PA pollster to predict the race shifting towards Trump in Pennsylvania in the final days of the 2016 Election—reporting a tied race 3 days before Election Day. In 2014, Harper was the only pollster to correctly forecast both Governor Wolf’s landslide victory in the Democratic Primary and his 10% margin of victory in the General Election. And, Harper Polling was the only pollster that had Senator Tillis winning before the 2014 North Carolina Senate Election—and accurately predicted the 2% margin of victory.
Brock is one of the country’s foremost experts on the political landscape of Congress. His work on redistricting efforts in 2011 and a high volume of Congressional polls each election cycle provide Brock with a unique understanding of the electoral footing beneath the U.S. House and Senate.
Prior to founding Harper Polling, Brock McCleary worked as a campaign operative, Capitol Hill aide, and public affairs consultant. He previously served as Communications Director for Congressman Patrick McHenry of North Carolina. He began his career in 1998 as the Deputy Coalitions Director for Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge’s reelection campaign. He served as
Political Director of the New Jersey Republican Party and as a consultant to congressional and state legislative races in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, before heading to Washington, D.C.
Brock is a RIVA-trained focus group Moderator. In 2010, he was presented with the “Rising Star” Award by Campaigns & Elections magazine.
“Chairman Pete Session’s NRCC, led by Executive Director Guy Harrison, Communications Director Paul Lindsay, Political Director Mike Shields, and Polling Director Brock McCleary, correctly calculated early on in the cycle that offense was the best defense. Their early attacks to encourage Democratic retirements helped create a GOP open-seat advantage and eventually forced Democrats to spend millions of dollars defending seats in places like Connecticut, Rhode Island and southern Illinois.”-Famed Political Handicapper Charlie Cook
A Q&A with polling guru Brock McCleary- City & State PA
“House Republican survey maven Brock McCleary”- Time Magazine
Victoria Waddail, Director of Research & Polling
Victoria Waddail is Director of Research and Polling at Harper Polling. She joined the firm before the 2014 cycle. She assists in the development and fielding of surveys as well as in providing analysis for the firm’s wide array of political and public affairs clients. Since joining Harper Polling, Victoria has worked on hundreds of surveys for members of Congress, public policy groups, and party organizations.
She gained experience at the DC-based public opinion research firm Public Opinion Strategies, and studied the principles and methods of public policy analysis from prominent policymakers as a Summer Institute Scholar at the American Enterprise Institute. Victoria is a RIVA-trained focus group Moderator.
Victoria is a 2016 graduate of the Anne B. Anstine Excellence in Public Service Series, a professional leadership program designed to train women to be more effective leaders in government, business, and the community. She is a board member of the Junior League of York. She graduated magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa from Washington and Lee University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Mathematics and is President of the University’s Keystone Alumni Chapter. Originally from Towson, MD, Victoria now lives in York, PA with her husband Chris and son Theodore.
Samuel Leach, Data Director
Sam Leach is Data Director at Harper Polling. Since joining Harper Polling in January 2018, Sam has specialized in assuring the quality of data collection, processes, and reports.
Prior to joining Harper Polling, Sam became versed in Pennsylvania politics and public policy issues as an intern with the Republican Party of Pennsylvania and the Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy Alternatives.
Originally from the small town of Jasper, NY, Sam currently resides in the Harrisburg area with his wife. He attended Grove City College, where he assisted with the instruction of Research Methods in Political Science and served as an editor of the Grove City College Journal of Law and Public Policy. In 2017, he graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and History.