Laura Thorsett is a Senior Associate at GBAO, where she works on surveys, literature reviews, client presentations, and focus groups, particularly focusing on education issues and the Pacific Northwest. In 2020, Laura conducted extensive research for the National Education Association and over 30 state affiliates, surveying members on issues relating to the presidential election and the COVID-19 pandemic. She also worked on two winning Oregon ballot measure campaigns, the tobacco and vaping tax and campaign finance reform, and for Oregon Secretary of State Shemia Fagan. Her other clients have included Governor Kate Brown (OR), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), and the Institute for Higher Education Policy. In 2018, she worked on polling that helped secure supermajorities in both the Oregon House of Representatives and State Senate.
Prior to joining GBAO, Laura interned with the Pew Research Center’s political team and was a member of the Harvard Institute of Politics’ Public Opinion Project, conducting public opinion research focused on young Americans’ political involvement.
Laura is a native of Santa Cruz, CA and Salem, OR and graduated from Harvard College with a bachelor’s degree in social studies and secondary field in statistics, focusing on political sociology and inequality in the American education and child welfare systems. In her free time, you can find Laura watching Portland Thorns games.