Swalwell for America

(page updated  Junly 11, 2019)

Headquarters: Dublin, CA.  FEC
announced candidacy April 8, 2019
announced end of campaign July 8, 2019
ericswalwell.com  |  @EricSwalwell
press releases

Candidate  Eric Swalwell  timeline

Wife  Brittany Ann Watts

Campaign Chairman  U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego (AZ-7)

(announced April 15, 2019)  Elected to Congress in 2014.  Elected to the Arizona House of Representatives in 2010; assistant minority leader, 2012-14.  Public affairs consultant, 2007-08.  Joined the U.S. Marines and served 2002-06, including in Iraq.  A.B. in International Relations from Harvard University, 2004.

Chief Strategist/Campaign Manager  Lisa Tucker

Founder (2002) and principal of The Tucker Group, a California-based political, communications and public relations firm.  District director for U.S. Rep. Ellen Tauscher, 2000-01.  Political director for the Michigan Democratic Party, 1998-99.  Associate at Staton, Hughes and Shafer, 1994-98.  Regional director for U.S. Sen. Carl Levin, 1985-93.  B.A. in political science from Wayne State University, 1988.  twitter

Chief Operating Officer  Garrick Delzell

Self employed consultant since Apr. 2018.  Planning director for CAC, Mar. 2017-Apr. 2018; program director for CAC, CCEPC, June 2016-Mar. 2017.  Campaign manager on Donna Edwards for Senate (MD), Apr. 2015-Apr. 2016.  Political advisor to EMILY's List, Feb. 2013-Mar. 2015.  Campaign manager on Kuster for Congress (NH), Feb.-Dec. 2012.  Campaign manager on Dan Roberti for Congress, June 2011-Feb. 2012.  Campaign manager on Alvin Brown for Mayor (Jacksonville), Jan.-Apr. 2011.  Campaign manager on Kosmas for Congress (FL), Mar.-Nov. 2010.   Campaign manager at Vote No on 46, Sept.-Nov. 2008.  Campaign manager on Joan Fitz-Gerald for Congress, Oct. 2007-Aug. 2008.  Campaign manager for Vote No on 2 (Aurora, CO), Aug.-Dec. 2006.  Campaign manager on Coleman for State Senate (CO), Jan.-Aug. 2006.  Grassroots coordinator for the New Mexico Wilderness Alliance, Jan. 2000-Jan. 2002.  B.A. in religious studies from Bucknell University, 1997.

Senior Strategist  Alex Evans

Chief of staff to Swalwell, April 2018-Mar. 2019.  President and CEO at EMC Research, Inc., Mar. 1989-April 2018.  City councilman in Richmond, CA, Mar. 1995-Jan. 2001.  Vice president at Cambridge Survey Research, Mar. 1984-Mar. 1989.  M.P.P. from University of Michigan, 1985; B.A. in political science from UC Berkeley, 1983.

Senior Strategist  Tim Sbranti

Athletics director at Dublin High School.  Deputy chief of staff to Swalwell from June 2015.  Candidate for California State Assembly District 16, 2014.  CEO of State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson's non-profit foundation, Californians Dedicated to Education, 2010-13.  Mayor of Dublin, 2008-14; elected to the Dublin City Council in 2002.  Teacher and coach at Dublin High School; was Swalwell's high school economics teacher.  B.A. in government from Cal State Sacramento, 1998.

Communications Director  Josh Richman

Communications director in the Office of Congressman Swalwell from Feb. 2016.  Reporter for the Bay Area News Group, July 1997-Jan. 2016.  Reporter for the Express Times (Easton, PA), Aug. 1992-July 1997.  Bachelor of journalism from University of Missouri-Columbia, 1992.  twitter

National Press Secretary  Cait McNamee

Has worked for Rep. Swalwell since July 2014: press secretary (from Jan. 2017), Future Forum policy director (Mar. 2016-Jan. 2017), scheduler (July 2015-Mar. 2016) and staff assistant (July 2014-July 2015).  Bachelor's degree in political science, economic and Spanish from Allegheny College, 2014.  twitter

Deputy Press Secretary  Celia Olivas

Degree in legal studies from UC Santa Cruz, 2017.  From Stockton, CA.  twitter

Director of Email Strategy  Kunal Basu-Dutta

(Apr. 2019)  Freelance writer and editor from Nov. 2017.  Digital marketing manager for Swalwell for Congress, Mar. 2018-Apr. 2019.  Educational fellow for Bedrock Educational Consultants, July 2016-July 2017.  Social editorial lead for Amazon, Feb.-Dec. 2015.  Digital marketer for University of Chicago, Oct. 2014-Feb. 2015.  Communications associate for the National Association of Charter School Authorizers, July 2013-Oct. 2014.  B.A. in classics and classical languages, literature from University of Chicago, 2013.

Director of Digital Strategy  Hannah Cranston

Creator and host of the podcast Too Much To Handle. Host and executive producer of YouTube's ThinkTank. Formerly a regular guest host on The Young Turks, contributor for The Huffington Post and Pop Sugar News. Major in psychology from Duke University.  Originally from Los Angeles.  hannahcranston.com  twitter

Director of Scheduling  Aaron Fielding

(April 2019)  Finance director on Swalwell for Congress, Jan. 2016-April 2019.  Campaign manager on Mowrer for Iowa, Aug.-Nov. 2015.  Director of client services/finance director for the Iowa Democratic Party, June 2014-June 2015.  Finance director on Burke for Wisconsin, Nov. 2013-April 2014.  Finance director on Buono for Governor (NJ), Feb.-Nov. 2013.  Finance director on Friends of Charlie Wilson (OH), April-Nov. 2012.  Deputy finance director on Hosmer for Congress, Jan.-Feb. 2012.  Tracker for American Bridge 21st Century in Manchester, NH, May-Nov. 2011.  Research assistant for the Democratic Party of New Mexico, June-Nov. 2010.  Campaign manager on Juan LaFonta for Congress (LA), Feb.-May 2010.  Lead organizer on SEIU Change that Works Campaign in Lafayette and Baton Rouge, LA, June-Nov. 2009.  Regional field director on Louisiana Victory 2008, April-Nov. 2008.  Field organizer in Des Moines on John Edwards for President, July 2007-Feb. 2008.  Field organizer on Tom Knox for Philly, Feb.-May 2007.  Bachelor's degree in political science and history from Temple University, 2006.

Deputy Director of Scheduling  Lina Tragni

(April 2019)  Scheduler and office manager to Rep. Swalwell in his congressional office, July 2018-Mar. 2019.  Human resources administrator at FRSTeam, Inc., Dec. 2017-June 2018.  Bachelor's degree in political science and government from University of Portland, 2017.

Advance  Chris Keosian

(April 2019)  Advance on Swalwell for Congress, July 2018-April 2019 and assistant legislative correspondent in Rep. Swalwell's congressional office, June 2018-April 2019; started with Swalwell as an intern, Jan.-June 2018.  Studied government and politics at University of Maryland College Park.  twitter

National Finance Director  Yardena Wolf

Managing director of campaigns (from June 2017) and development associate (June 2016-June 2017) at New York City-based Berger Hirschberg Strategies.  Research assistant at the State of Alabama Oil and Gas  Board, Jan. 2015-May 2016.  B.A. in political science and government from The University of Alabama.

National Finance Senior Advisor  Stephanie Berger

Co-founder (2003) and principal at New York City-based Berger Hirschberg Strategies.  Vice president of development for the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation.  Co-finance director for John Kerry's presidential campaign.   California finance director for Al Gore’s presidential campaign, finance director for the Democratic National Convention.   Graduate of Sweet Briar College, 1991.  Grew up in Houston.

Comptroller  Christopher Higgenbotham

(April 2019)  Project coordinator at Lowe Consulting Group, Inc. in Oakland, CA., July 2017-Apr. 2019.  Dean of students at Patten Academy in Oakland, CA, May 2013-Aug. 2017.  Organizer with the East Bay Organizing Committee, Jan.-Apr. 2015.  Bachelor's degreee in English Language and Literature from Morehouse College, 2013.

summer fellows including Logan Basch, Kelsea Parker
interns including Aaron Deivaprakash, Isabella Gravano, Arjav Rawal

State Chair  Vikki Brown

(announced April 11, 2019)  Chairwoman of the Black Hawk County Democrats, elected in March 2017 to serve a two-year term.  Retired since 2006.  African-American outreach coordinator in eastern Iowa on Hillary Clinton's campaign in 2016.  A precinct captain in the 2008, 2012 and 2016 caucuses.  Worked on campaigns in Michigan in the 1970s.  Grew up in Birmingham, AL.

State Director  Eddie Alvarez

Political director for New Energy PAC from Sept. 2018.  Political director for the Alameda County Building and Construction Trades Unions, Mar. 2017-Sept. 2018.  Campaign manager on McCarthy for Montana, Jan.-Mar. 2017.  Regional field director/deputy field director on Foster Campbell for U.S. Senate (LA), Nov.-Dec. 2016.  Senior staff on Ro Khanna for Congress (CA), 2016.  Middle school teacher in Los Angeles, 2014-16.  Senior advisor on John Lewis for Congress/Montana Democratic Party, 2014.  Campaign manager on Doug Otto for Long Beach (CA) Mayor, 2013-14.  JV baseball coach and substitue teacher in Santa Clarita, CA, 2006-14.  A regional field director for the California Democratic Party, 2012; field director on Reginald Byron Jones-Sawyer for Assembly (CA), 2012.  B.A. in international relations, political science from Carroll College, 2010; also studied at Los Angeles Mission Community College.  Son of Mexican immigrants.  twitter

Field Director  Keshavan Sridhar

...

Regional Field Directors

Waterloo  Kevin Farley

(Apr. 2019)  Campaign staff on Swalwell for Congress, Jan.-Apr. 2019.  Red to Blue director/coordinator for Swalwell for Congress, Sept.-Nov. 2018.  Professional baseball player in Arizona and California, Sept. 2016-Sept. 2018.  B.S. in organizational communication from University of Portland, 2016.  twitter

???Des Moines  Michelle Bruggenthies
Caucus director on John Delaney's campaign from Dec. 2018 (announced Jan. 7, 2019).  Campaign manager on Jackie Smith for Iowa State Senate in 2018.  Worked on Pete D'Alessandro's 2018 primary campaign for Congress in IA-3.  Sioux City regional field director and regional field director in Chicago on Bernie 2016.  Worked on Chuy Garcia’s 2015 bid for mayor of Chicago. Worked on Gov. Pat Quinn’s re-election campaign in 2014.   Has also organized in Washington State and New Jersey.  Studied History, English Literature at Loyola University Chicago.  From Chicago.

State Director  Mackenzie Murphy

(Mar. 2019)  Most recently interned with U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna (CA), Jan.-Mar. 2019.  Campaign manager on Mindi Messmer's campaign for Congress in NH CD-1, Apr.-Sept. 2018.  Served with Americorps VISTA, Aug. 2017-Aug. 2018.  Youth minister at Our Lady of Mercy in Merrimack, May 2017-Feb. 2018.  B.S. in business administration and management and B.S. in psychology from Granite State College, 2019; Associate's degree from Nashua Community College, 2017.  twitter

State Director  Breticca Moody

(June 2019)   Director of residential services (Jan.-June 2019) and assistant director of residential services (Nov. 2018-June 2019.  Campaign manager on Rosalyn Glenn for State Treasurer from July 2018.  Regional political director on James Smith for Governor.  Regional field director for the South Carolina Democratic Party, June-Oct. 2017.  Reisdence hall director at the College of Charleston, July 2016-Mar. 2017.  Academic advisorr at Missouri State University, Oct. 2014-June 2016.  Cashier at Voorhees College, Aug. 2013-Sept. 2014.  TRIO studen support services counselor for the College of Charleston, Jan. 2011-July 2013.  M.E. fomr Columbia College, 2014.  B.A. in political science from College of Charleston, 2010.

Notes:
In the July 18, 2019 news conference announcing the end of his campaign, Swalwell stated he "had a campaign operation with staff in Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, New York, Washington and California."

A Feb. 18, 2019 report on WHO-TV stated, "Swalwell told an audience in Sioux City Saturday that he has eight staffers in Iowa and is putting together a team in South Carolina too."

Former
Regional Field Director-Cedar Rapids  Jordan Hensley
(Feb.-Apr. 2019)  Field organizer in Des Moines for Human Rights Campaign, Sept.-Nov. 2018.  Client services specialist for All Shows, July 2014-Apr. 2018.  B.A. in history, political science from University of Connecticut, 2013.

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Copyright © 2019 Eric M. Appleman/Democracy in Action. All rights reserved.