James W. Lauer is the President and founder of Lauer Johnson Research. He has worked in Democratic politics since 1978, including research for the 1992 Clinton/Gore campaign and the DCCC's winning Congressional campaign effort in 1998. Before forming this company, Jim was President of James Lauer & Associates where he directed over 250 studies for clients involved in the creation of the cellular telephone industry. Jim served as Director of Survey Research for the Democratic Study Group in the early 1980's. While at DSG, he conducted over 100 surveys for 50 members of Congress. Jim managed political campaigns across the country before beginning his polling career.

Jim received a B.A. degree in Political Science from Colorado College and attended the graduate program of the School of Government and Public Administration at the American University for studies in politics and quantitative methods. In 1995, he was appointed an Adjunct Professor of political science at American University's School of Public Affairs. Jim frequently lectures on public opinion trends before business, non-profit and university audiences. Jim and his wife Susan reside in San Francisco, CA. His daughter currently attends Macalester College in St. Paul Minnesota.