David de la Fuente became passionate about politics during the 2000 presidential election, when he was an elementary school student in Dallas, Texas. Since then, he has followed politics intensely for both professional and personal reasons—he watched as his father earned the right to vote in 2002 and as his mother voted for the first time in 2004, at his urging. David first volunteered on campaigns as a high school student in 2006’s midterm election, when George W. Bush’s native Dallas County transformed from a Republican stronghold to one in which Democrats have won 99% of countywide elections in the past decade. Hooked, he has pursued a political career since that cycle.

David is the Senior Political Analyst in the Social Policy and Politics Program at Third Way. There, he manages Shield PAC, researches and writes about political and electoral trends, and manages the organization’s electoral reform work.

Previously, David worked on the political team at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee IE, the research team at the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, the political team at NARAL Pro-Choice America, and for Congressman Marc Veasey.

David graduated with a Bachelor of Science and a Bachelor of Arts from Southern Methodist University. He serves as the chair of the Latino Alumni of SMU Board.