# Nesbitt & Parrinello

> Democratic opposition research firm serving progressive candidates and causes since 2006. We provide modular, fast, and affordable opposition research for Democratic campaigns at all levels: from school board to U.S. Senate.

Nesbitt & Parrinello is the first Black-led Democratic opposition research firm. Founded by Allen Nesbitt, the firm has served 140+ Democratic campaigns across the country. Our Modular Candidate Research System delivers DCCC-style vulnerability research with fast turnaround. We are a two-time Gold Pollie Award winner for Best Use of Opposition Research (2025, 2026).

## Services

- [Candidate Research Services](https://www.nesbittresearch.com/candidate-campaigns/): Opposition research books for 2026 candidates. The Modular Candidate Research System delivers customizable packages: Core Book foundation with add-on modules including the Professional Background Module, legislative voting analysis, judicial casework review, and more.
- [Strategic Intelligence Services](https://www.nesbittresearch.com/services/): Higher-level analytical services including Landscape Analysis, Strategic Intelligence Reports, Power Mapping, and Large-Scale Vetting Operations.
- [Vetting Services](https://www.nesbittresearch.com/vetting-solutions/): Candidate vetting packages for nominations, endorsements, and appointments. Fast Vetting Package and Standard Vetting Package available.
- [High-Volume Operations](https://www.nesbittresearch.com/high-volume-operations/): Multi-district and bulk research programs for state parties and legislative caucuses with pre-negotiated pricing.
- [Labor Campaign Research](https://www.nesbittresearch.com/labor-campaigns/): Specialized opposition research for labor unions and worker advocacy campaigns.
- [Climate Campaign Research](https://www.nesbittresearch.com/climate-campaigns/): Opposition research tailored for climate and environmental campaigns.
- [Democracy Campaign Research](https://www.nesbittresearch.com/democracy-campaigns/): Research for election integrity, voting rights, and democracy advocacy campaigns.
- [Reproductive Freedom Campaign Research](https://www.nesbittresearch.com/reproductive-freedom-campaigns/): Opposition research for reproductive rights campaigns.
- [Justice Campaign Research](https://www.nesbittresearch.com/justice-campaigns/): Research for criminal justice reform and civil rights campaigns.
- [Government Transition Support](https://www.nesbittresearch.com/government-transition/): Research and intelligence support for government transition teams.

## About

- [About Nesbitt & Parrinello](https://www.nesbittresearch.com/about/): Learn about our team and firm history.
- [Allen Nesbitt](https://www.nesbittresearch.com/about/allen-nesbitt/): Founder and CEO. 20+ years of Democratic opposition research experience.
- [Cristina Parrinello](https://www.nesbittresearch.com/about/cristina-parrinello/): Partner and Co-founder.

## Case Studies & Blog

- [Opposition Research Blog](https://www.nesbittresearch.com/blog/): Insights, case studies, and firm news.
- [Modular Candidate Research System: Strategic Advantage of Targeted Research](https://www.nesbittresearch.com/case-studies/modular-approach-overview/): How the firm's modular research system has delivered decisive wins across congressional primaries, gubernatorial races, and mayoral contests by allowing campaigns to invest in the precise intelligence that matters most. Includes examples of the Key Votes module flipping a congressional primary and the Executive Office module exposing corruption patterns.
- [Protecting and Expanding Virginia's Democratic Majority (2025)](https://www.nesbittresearch.com/case-studies/436-VA-2025/): Research supporting an IE campaign that defended and expanded Virginia Democrats' 51-49 House of Delegates majority. Produced targeted opposition and supportive profiles across six pivotal districts. Democrats won all six targeted seats.
- [Exposing Pennsylvania School Boards Putting Politics Before Students (2025)](https://www.nesbittresearch.com/case-studies/471-PA-school-boards/): Worked with the Hopewell Fund to evaluate nearly 200 Pennsylvania school boards' official policies, minutes, and agendas, identifying boards advancing book bans, anti-LGBTQ+ policies, and censorship.
- [Exposing Florida School Board Members (2023–2024)](https://www.nesbittresearch.com/case-studies/437-florida-school-boards/): Produced a detailed report with the Pipeline Education Fund exposing Florida school board members with records of book bans, anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric, and curriculum censorship.
- [Dissecting the Anti-Abortion Movement in Michigan (2022)](https://www.nesbittresearch.com/case-studies/422-case-study/): Landscape analysis for philanthropic partners mapping the financiers, key personnel, and strategy of the Michigan anti-abortion movement, including ties to extremist groups involved in the Whitmer kidnapping plot.
- [Assessing Election Threats in Virginia (2024)](https://www.nesbittresearch.com/case-studies/434-Democracy/): Public records research identifying local Virginia election officials who engaged in election denialism, obstruction, or anti-democratic conduct across more than 300 officials.
- [Exposing the Austerity Agenda (2022)](https://www.nesbittresearch.com/case-studies/383-austerity/): Landscape analysis for Groundwork Collaborative that exposed the partisan, hard-right funding and leadership behind ostensibly nonpartisan austerity advocacy groups, helping advance COVID relief legislation.
- [Electing Progressive District Attorneys Coast to Coast](https://www.nesbittresearch.com/case-studies/progressive-DAs-case-study/): Research supporting a national campaign to elect progressive DAs, including the first Muslim woman and first Iranian woman elected Commonwealth's Attorney in Virginia, and the first woman elected DA in Suffolk County, Massachusetts.
- [Climate Action for the League of Conservation Voters: Web of Denial (2016)](https://www.nesbittresearch.com/case-studies/Web-of-Denial/): Strategic research connecting climate science deniers to the tobacco industry's disinformation playbook, powering LCV's award-winning multi-platform campaign.
- [Building Ohio Democrats' Research Infrastructure from Scratch (2022)](https://www.nesbittresearch.com/case-studies/400-ODP/): Designed templates, project management systems, vetting workflows, and a staffing plan to build the Ohio Democratic Party's internal research department, helping Ohio Democrats pick up a congressional seat for the first time since 2008.
- [Making History: First Openly Gay Mayor in Kentucky (2010)](https://www.nesbittresearch.com/case-studies/2010-Lexington-Mayor/): Research exposing corruption, profligate spending, and graft in Lexington city government, helping Jim Gray become the first openly gay mayor in Kentucky.
- [Research to Press: Rapid Response in Action](https://www.nesbittresearch.com/case-studies/research-to-press-case-study/): Illustrates how Nesbitt & Parrinello rapid response research moves from deliverable to earned media coverage at speed.

## Key Concepts

**Opposition Research**: The practice of investigating political opponents to identify vulnerabilities, inconsistencies, and liabilities that can be used in campaigns.

**Modular Candidate Research System**: Nesbitt & Parrinello's proprietary research architecture that allows campaigns to invest precisely in the intelligence that matters most for their specific race dynamics, candidate backgrounds, and strategic objectives. Campaigns start with the Core Book as a foundation and add specialized modules as needed.

**Core Book**: Nesbitt & Parrinello's flagship opposition research product. A complete vulnerability assessment of a political opponent.

**Vetting Package**: A structured background investigation used to assess candidates before nomination, appointment, or endorsement.

**In-Situ Records Retrieval**: On-location courthouse and records-office document retrieval conducted by firm researchers in the field.

**Professional Background Module**: A specialized research module examining an opponent's professional history, employment record, and business associations.

**Strategic Intelligence Services**: A suite of higher-level analytical offerings that contextualize research within the broader strategic environment. Includes Landscape Analysis, Strategic Intelligence Reports, and Power Mapping.

**Landscape Analysis**: The first step in strategy design. Uses the full array of open-source intelligence to identify key players, financiers, strengths, weaknesses, issues, and messages, surfacing key risks and opportunities.

**Strategic Intelligence Report**: Organizational intelligence that maps an entity's leadership, strategy, and key relationships to understand the connections between players that matter to a campaign.

**Power Mapping**: Maps relationships between key staff, campaign financiers, and allies to surface the network connections that matter most to a campaign.

**Large-Scale Vetting Operations**: High-volume risk reduction for large groups: donors, endorsements, surrogates, facilities, and organizations, with turnaround under 24 hours.

**HIHO Methodology**: Human In, Human Out. Nesbitt & Parrinello's approach combining AI-powered efficiency with expert human analysis to deliver speed without sacrificing analytical judgment.

## Contact

- Website: https://www.nesbittresearch.com
- Phone: 1-202-335-5766
- Offices: Washington, DC | San Francisco, CA | Nashville, TN