Trump Victory in the States

(page updated September 27, 2020)

The RNC and the Trump campaign are coordinating closely.  While a large field of Democrats battled for their party's nomination, Trump did not face a significant primary challenge, allowing for extensive early work to build the organization in the states.

TRUMP VICTORY

Trump Victory Political Director  Chris Carr

(announced Mar. 1, 2019)  Pollitical director for Donald J. Trump for President re-election announced May 23, 2018.  Political director at the RNC in the 2016 cycle, announced Feb. 9, 2015.  Co-founder and consultant to Engage Nevada, a conservative 501(c)(4) organization.  Nevada state manager on the Romney campaign, reported May 2012.  Western regional political director at the RNC, announced June 1, 2011 to May 2012.  Western regional political director at the NRCC in 2010.  West and Southeast political director at the NRCC in the 2010 cycle.  Northwest political director at the RNC, 2007-08. Campaign manager for Sen. John Ensign’s (R-NV) successful reelection bid in 2006.  Executive director of the Nevada Victory Campaign and Nevada State Republican Party in the 2004 cycle.  Executive director of the Clark County Republicans.  Carr came to Nevada from Louisiana; extensive experience in Louisiana campaigns including manager of Dan Kyle's primary campaign for Louisiana Insurance Commissioner in 2003; manager of Donna Mayeux's 2000 campaign for mayor of Baton Rouge; and manager of State Rep. Quentin Dastugue's 1995 gubernatorial campaign.  Deputy campaign manager on Jim Gibbons' 1994 campaign for governor.  Campaign manager for Bush-Quayle in Nevada in 1992.  Interned at the White House during the administration of President George H.W. Bush.  Graduate of McNeese State University in Lake Charles, LA.  Originally from Sulphur.

Nine Regional Political Directors:

Northeast  (ME, MA, NH, NJ, NY, RI and VT) Elissa Voccola

(from Mar. 2017)  New Hampshire deputy state director on Marco Rubio for President, May 2015-Mar. 2016.  Executive director of the New Hampshire Republican Party, Feb.-May 2015.  Executive director of the Connecticut Republican Party, May 2013-Jan. 2015.  Colorado field director on Romney for President in the fall campaign; during the primaries served as the Romney campaign's Utah and Wyoming director, from Nov. 2011.  Political director at the Connecticut Republican Party, Aug.-Nov. 2011.  Field manager on Tim Pawlenty for President, May-Aug. 2011.  Legislative aide in the Connecticut House, Dec. 2010-May 2011.  Political director on Sam Caligiuri for Congress, June-Nov. 2010.  Field representative on Simmons for U.S. Senate, Nov. 2009-May 2010. Degree in political science, history, communications from Western Connecticut State University, 2010; earlier studied at Clarkson University.  twitter

Mid-Atlantic (DE, MD, MI, PA and DC)  Jon Black

(from Apr. 2017)  [Based in Harrisburg]  Director of turnout and targeting for the RNC, May 2013-Apr. 2017.  Digital political director at Romney for President, Nov. 2011-Nov. 2012.  Political analyst at Target Victory, Feb.-Nov. 2011.  Voter programs for the Michigan Republican Party, Dec. 2009-Dec. 2010.  Republican Party of Virginia Victory, June-Nov. 2009.  Deputy director of political technology/Voter Vault (May 2008-March 2009) and a regional Voter Vault coordinator (April 2007-May 2008) at the RNC.  Worked on the Rhode Island Victory campaign in latter half of 2006, ID-ing and mobilizing likely voters in the U.S. Senate race.  Degree in political science from Allegheny College, 2006.

Southern Atlantic (KY, NC, SC, TN and VA)  Jason Simmons

(Mar. 2019)  Associate Administrator at the U.S. Small Business Administration, Nov. 2017-Mar. 2019.  Chief of staff (Apr.-Nov. 2017) and senior White House advisor (Jan.-Apr. 2017) for the U.S. Office of Personnel Management.  North Carolina state director for the Trump campaign, Aug.-Nov. 2016.   Comes to the campaign from the Office of Gov. Pat McCrory.  Senior advisor to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, April 2013-Dec. 2015.  Worked in Office of Gov. Pat McCrory, Jan.-April 2013.  Regional manager for Charlotte on RNC Victory in North Carolina; during the South Carolina primary campaign, Simmons was field director assistant at Mitt Romney for President and executive director of South Carolina Students for Mitt Romney.  M.A. in international studies, international relations and foreign policy analysis (2012) and B.A. in political science, Islamic studies (2010) from University of South Carolina-Columbia.  Combat medic/mental health specialist in the U.S. Army Reserve, 1996-2004.

Florida  Alex Garcia

(Apr. 2019)  Chief of staff to Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nunez, Nov. 2018-Apr. 2019.  Political director for House campaigns for the Republican Party of Florida, Jan. 2017-Nov. 2018.  RNC deputy state director (July 2015-Nov. 2016) and director of Hispanic initiatives (from Oct. 2013) in Florida.Legislative aide to state Rep. Michael Bileca, Jan. 2011-Sept. 2013.  Campaign manager on Michael Bileca for State Rep., May-Nov. 2012.  Legislative aide (Nov. 2010-Jan. 2011) and district aide (Jan.-Nov. 2010) to state Sen. Anitere Flores.  Deputy campaign manager on Anitere Flores for State Senate in 2010.  B.S. in health science from Florida International University, 2008.  twitter

Ohio Valley (IL, IN, OH, WV and WI)  Clayton Henson

(reportd by Cleveland.com on May 2019)  Most recently a regional political director at the White House.  Ohio coalitions director on Trump's 2016 campaign.  Manager of regional services for Sec. of State Jon Husted and deputy campaign manager on Husted's 2014 re-election campaign.  Marine Corps veteran.  Pickaway County, OH native.

Trump Victory Regional Political Director Midwest (IA, KS, MN, NE, ND, OK, SD and TX)  Ashley Walukevich

(previously regional director of delegates and party organization from Jan. 2019...succeeded Stephanie Alexander who was promoted to chief of staff, reported May 26, 2020)  New Hampshire state director for the RNC in the 2018 cycle.  A regional fied director for the New Hampshire Republican State Committee in 2016.  Worked for Sen. Susan Collins in her DC and Maine offices and on her re-election in 2014.  Worked for the Florida Republican Party / Romney presidential campaign as a field director in Boca Raton, 2012.  Degree in political science from Saint Joseph’s College of Maine, 2012; interned for Sen. Susan Collins all four years.  Originally from Rockingham County, NH.  twitter

Southern Gulf (AL, AR, GA, LA, MS, MO and Carribean territories)  Brian Barrett

State strategist for Majority Strategies from Feb. 2017.  RNC Victory director in Florida in the 2016 cycle, started as RNC state director in July 2015. RNC Victory director for Georgia in 2014.  Chief of staff to the Montana Senate President during the 2013 session.  Deputy chief of staff at Montanans for Rehberg, Jan. 2011-Dec. 2012.  Campaign manager on Jeff Miller for Congress, Feb.-Dec. 2010.  Absentee ballot director for the Republican Party of Virginia, 2009.  B.S. in political science and government from Rollins College, 2007.  twitter

West (AZ, CO, MT, NM, UT and WY)  Brian Seitchik

Owner of RDP Strategies in Scottsdale.  Campaign manager on Steve Gaynor's 2018 campaign for Arizona Secretary of State, a narrow loss to Kate Hobbs (D).  Arizona state director on Donald J. Trump for President, July-Nov. 2016.  Campaign manager on Christine Jones for Governor (AZ), 2014.  Chief of staff to U.S. Rep. Dan Lungren (CA), July 2012-Jan. 2013.  Campaign manager on George LeMieux for Senate (FL), June 2011-July 2012.   Communications consultant/spokesman for the California Republican Party, July-Nov. 2010.  Campaign manager on Danny Tarkanian for U.S. Senate, Oct. 2009-June 2010.  Campaign manager on Poizner for Insurance Commissioner, March 2007-May 2009.  Communications director on Mike DeWine for U.S. Senate, Jan.-Nov. 2006.  Campaign manager on Redistrict California/Yes on Prop. 77, Sept.-Nov. 2005.  Director of communications/spokesman for U.S. Rep. Dan Lungren, Dec. 2004-Sept. 2005.  Campaign manager on Gary Podesto for State Senate, April-Dec. 2004.  Campaign manager on Dan Lungren for Congress, Dec. 2003-March 2004.  Deputy director of policy and opinion research on Bill Simon for Governor, Jan. 2001-Dec. 2002.  Director of research for the polling company TM, Feb. 1999-June 2001.  Research associate at Dresner, Wickers & Associates, Dec. 1997-Jan. 1999.  Undergraduate degree from University of Michigan, 1997.

Pacific (AK, CA, HI, ID, NV, OR and WA)  Jeremy Hughes

(Mar. 2019)  [Based in Las Vegas]  Consultant at November Inc., Dec. 2014-Mar. 2019.  Nevada state director on Marco Rubio for President, May 2015-Apr. 2016.  Campaign manager on Gov. Brian Sandoval's 2014 re-election and a consultant on Mark Hutchison's 2014 campaign for lieutenant governor.  Political director on U.S. Sen. Dean Heller's 2012 campaign.  Nevada state director on Gov. Rick Perry's campaign (announced Oct. 5, 2011).  Worked on Mississippi State Treasurer Tate Reeves' campaign for Lt. Governor, Aug. 2011 primary.  In Fall 2010 served as treasurer for "Citizens for a Working America," a group active in the SC-5 U.S. House race (reported by HuffPo's Sam Stein).  Political director on Kentucky Secretary of State Trey Grayson's U.S. Senate campaign in the May 2010 primary election.  Campaign manager for Kentucky Congressman Geoff Davis.  Managed managed Jack Ditty’s campaign in the Aug. 25, 2009 state senate special election in northeastern Kentucky.  Staffer of the Northern Kentucky Republican Victory Office.  Executive director of Freedom Vote, an Ohio-based non-profit, focusing on voter turnout efforts in the state.  Graduate of Morehead State University.  Kentucky native. twitter

See: Michael C. Bender.  "Republicans Hire Nine Regional Directors for Trump 2020 Election.  Wall Street Journal, May 8, 2019.

Trump Victory State Director  Drew Sexton

(May 2019)  Campaign manager on Moses Sanchez for Mayor of Phoenix, Jan.-Nov. 2018.  Account executive and media relations for HighGround, Inc. May 2014-Jan. 2018.  Public affairs and communications specialist in the Office of Arizona Gov. Janice Brewer, Jan. 2013-Apr. 2014.  Assistant account executive for HighGround, Inc. May 2011-Dec. 2012.  B.A. in political science, economics from Arizona State University, 2011.  twitter

Trump Victory State Director  Jefferson Thomas

(announced Sept. 30,  2019)  Consultant at Majority Strategies.  Colorado political director on Trump's 2016 campaign, Aug.-Nov. 2016.  Political director for the Colorado Republican Committee from March 2016.  RNC deputy state director for Colorado, July 2015-March 2016.  Administrative graduate assistant for Univ. of Missouri football, June 2014-June 2015.  Principal and founder of The Fulcrum Group, LLC, June 2012-June 2015.  Campaign manager on Bill Reineke for State Rep. in Tiffin, OH, March-May 2014.  Political director on Barry Sitherman for Attorney General (TX), Jan.-March 2014.  Director of operations on Brad Lager for Lt. Gov. (MO), Jan.-June 2012.  72-Hour and Election Day operations coordinator on Ramadan for Delegate (VA), Oct.-Nov. 2011.  Field director on Better Leadership for Missouri (Lt. Gov. Kinder), May 2008-Jan. 2011.  B.S. in hospitality management from University of Missouri, 2015.  Missouri native.  twitter

Senior Advisor  Susie Wiles

(returned to the campaign early July 2020 after being ousted in Sept. 2019)  [FloridaPolitics describes Wiles as "the political strategist behind Donald Trump's 2016 Florida win"]  Managing partner of the Jacksonville office of Ballard Partners, from 2011, left Sept. 2019 citing health issues.  Chairman of Ron DeSantis' 2018 campaign for governor, Sept.-Nov. 2018.  Senior advisor for battleground communications on the Trump for President campaign in Florida.  Principal at Right Coast Strategies from 2011.  Initial campaign manager on Jon Huntsman's presidential campaign, started as executive director of H-PAC in late Jan. 2011; resigned July 21, 2011.  Campaign manager on Rick Scott's successful run for Governor of Florida, 2010.  Chief of communications and special initiatives under Jacksonville Mayor John Peyton for five years through June 2008.  Principal at Wiles Consulting, Inc. 2001-04.  Co-managing partner in the Florida office of APCO Worldwide, 2000-01.  Senior executive under Jacksonville Mayor John Delaney including as his chief of staff, 1995-99.   District director to U.S. Rep. Tillie K. Fowler (FL), 1992-95.  Deputy director of operations for the vice presidential campaign on Bush-Quayle '88.  Principal at Summerall, Smith & Wiles, 1984-86.  Special assistant to U.S. Secretary of Labor Ray Donovan, 1982-83.  Special assistant (scheduler) to President Reagan, 1980-81.  Deputy director of scheduling on Ronald Reagan's 1980 presidential campaign.  Staff assistant to U.S. Rep. Jack Kemp (NY), 1979-80.  B.A. in English from University of Maryland.  twitter

Trump Victory State Director  Kevin Marino Cabrera

Most recently lobbyist at the Southern Strategy Group.  Previously field director and director of constituent services to U.S. Rep. Carlos Curbelo.  twitter

Trump Victory State Director  Daniel Coats

RNC state director  in Nevada in 2018.  A deputy state director at the Republican Party of Florida during the 2016 cycle.  Worked on Georgians for Isakson, Deal for Governor, Kemp for Secretary of State and other campaigns.  Degree in political science from University of Georgia.  twitter

Trump Victory State Director Carly Miller (Couture)

(Aug. 1, 2019)  Briefly at the U.S. Department of the Interior.  White House liaison to the USDA,Jan. 2017-Apr. 2019; started on the transition.  Kansas state director on Trump's 2016 general election campaign.  Owner of Paint the Towne LLC from July 2010.  Director of communications for the Kansas State Treasurer, Dec. 2011-May 2013.   Realtor, 2010-Dec. 2011.  M.P.A. (2010) and B.A. in political science from Wichita State University.

RNC State Director  Joe Turcotte

(July 2017, announced Sept. 5, 2019)  Political director (Dec. 2014-July 2017) and state field director (Nov. 2013-Nov. 2014) for the Maine Republican Party.  Field staffer for the Maine Republican Party, July-Aug. 2013.  Legislative aide for Maine Senate Republicans, Aug.-Dec. 2012.  B.A. in political science and government from Assumption College, 2012.  twitter

Chris Velazco

Deputy state director (from Nov. 2015) and regional director (July-Oct. 2015) at the Ohio Republican Party. Regional director on Heiner-Crosbie for Kentucky, Feb.-May 2015.  Regional director in Oakland Co. (Jan.-Feb. 2015) and field office manager (May-Dec. 2014) for the Michigan Republican Party.   Paralegal, Nov. 2013-May 2014.  Field coordinator on Joe Lhota for Mayor, Oct.-Nov. 2013.  Senior consultant and volunteer director on Ray Perini for Suffolk Co. District Attorney, June-Oct. 2013.  Studied political science and government at Queens College.  twitter

Trump Victory State Director  Kevin Poindexter

(Nov. 2019)  Executive director of the Republican Party of Minnesota, May 2018-Oct. 2019.  Minnesota state director for the RNC, Oct. 2017-May 2018.  Account executive at Weber Johnson Public Affairs, Apr. 2016-Oct. 2017.  Iowa political director on Chris Christie for President, June 2015-Mar. 2016; Iowa political director on Christie's Leadership Matters for America PAC, May-June 2015.  Iowa state director for the RNC, July 2014-Apr. 2015.  Political director on Mike McFadden for U.S. Senate (MN), Dec. 2013-July 2014.  Did communications for the New Jersey Republican Party, July-Dec. 2013.  Legislative assistant to Minnesota state Sen. Bill Weber (SD-22), April-June 2013.  Chief of staff/legislative assistant to Virginia Delegate Margaret Ransone (99th District), Dec. 2012-April 2013.  Special operations manager on Romney for President in Wisconsin, July-Nov. 2012.  Legislative assistant with the Republican Caucus in the Minnesota House, Jan. 2011-July 2012.  Interned on Emmer for Governor, June-Dec. 2010.  B.A. in political science and management from St. John's University in St. Cloud, Minn., 2010.  twitter

Trump Victory Regional Political Director  Ashley Walukevich

Trump Victory Regional Political Director  Jeremy Hughes

(May 2019)  A regional field director for the Michigan Republican Party from Aug. 2017.  Studied at University of Nevada Reno.  twitter

Trump Victory Regional Political Director  Elissa Voccola

Senior Advisor  Corey Lewandowski

Founder (May 2017) president and CEO of Lewandowski Strategic Advisors.  Considered 2020 run for U.S. Senate from NH, but ruled it out on Dec. 31, 2019.   Co-founder of Avenue Strategies, Dec. 2016-May 2017.  Campaign manager on Trump's 2016 campaign to June 20 when he was replaced; started as senior political advisor to The Trump Organization in Jan. 2015.  National director of voter registration (from Mar. 2014) and East Coast regional director (Mar. 2013-Mar. 2014) and New Hampshire state director (from 2008) at Americans for Prosperity.  Candidate fr Windham town treasurer in 2012.  Director of public affairs at Schwartz MSL, Sept. 2004-July 2012.  Executive director of the New England Seafood Producers Association, May 2003-Aug. 2004.  Campaign manager and communications director on Bob Smith for U.S. Senate, Dec. 2001-Jan. 2003.  Northeast region legislative political director for the RNC, April-Nov. 2001.  Administrative assistant to U.S. Rep. Robert Ney (R-OH), Dec. 1997-Feb. 2001.  Development assistant at Citizens for a Sound Economy, May-Nov. 1997.  Executive assistant to U.S. Rep. Peter Torkildsen (R-MA), Jan. 1996-Jan. 1997.  Masters in political science from American University, 1997; B.A. in political science from University of Massachusetts Lowell, 1995.  Co-author with David Bossie of Let Trump Be Trump (Center Street, Dec. 2017) and Trump's Enemies (Center Street, Nov. 2018).  twitter

Trump Victory State Director  Sebastian Rougemont

(reported by WMUR on Jan. 13, 2020)  Deputy state director in Georgia, July 2019-Jan. 2020.  Operations and engagement coordinator at The Sycamore Institute, Mar.-June 2019.  Regional field director for the Nevada Republican Party, July 2017-Dec. 2018.  Field organizer in Orlando for the Republican Party of Florida, Aug.-Nov. 2016.  B.S. in political science from University of Central Florida, 2017; interned on Romney for President in Tampa, June-Nov. 2012.  twitter

          

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