Chris Wilson
Chris Wilson is CEO of Wilson Research Strategies, a company he founded in 1998. Since that time, WRS has done work for over 100 of the Fortune 500 and been involved in work for over 100 current and former members of Congress.
Former Global Director of Research at the world’s largest public relations firm, Chris specializes in market research geared toward winning campaigns (political or corporate), product challenges, public issue contests, or legislative battles. He understands that to succeed, messages and issues must burn through the clutter and reach their target audience.
Chris has built his reputation on being able to identify and overcome obstacles through focused communication based on strategically researched solutions. Understanding that research is an evolving science, he applies cutting-edge techniques to client challenges in order to stay well ahead of the competition.
Chris has an extensive background in campaign strategy, political media, and message development. Wilson served as Executive Director of the Republican Party of Texas under then-Governor George W. Bush, working closely with Bush adviser Karl Rove. Wilson followed Karen Hughes in this position. Educated in international economic systems, Wilson got his start in polling for current Congressman Tom Cole’s polling and consulting firm in 1992.
In 1996 Wilson joined Washington based Republican polling firm Fabrizio, McLaughlin and was a member of the Dole for President polling team. Wilson also did polling for the Bush for President campaign in 2004. He has been particularly involved in many successful political campaigns in the Southern and Midwestern regions of the US. In 1999, Chris was named a "Mover and Shaker" in American politics by Campaigns & Elections magazine - a respected campaign industry publication.
In addition to his domestic political work, Wilson is also very active in international politics, having served as a pollster and strategic advisor on campaigns in Israel, Russia, England, Ukraine, Sri Lanka, Ghana, Nicaragua, and Turkey (where he served as Deputy Manager on a campaign for Prime Minister).
Wilson is a frequent lecturer on research, strategy and national trends. He has been quoted in such national publications as the Washington Post, the Washington Times, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, Time, World and others. He is also a regular pundit on MSNBC, Fox News, CNN, CNBC, C-SPAN and a contributing author to trade magazines such as Campaigns & Elections and Campaign Magazine.
A native of Oklahoma, Wilson has earned degrees from the University of Oklahoma and Georgetown University in international economic systems. Chris, his wife Kathryn and their two sons, Denver and Carson, live in Washington, DC and Oklahoma City, OK.