Organization  |  IOWA CAUCUSES page  

Campaign Organization for the 2016 Iowa Caucuses

(page revised February 21, 2016)

Former Gov. Jeb Bush - Jeb 2016, Inc.

Headquarters: 2600 University Ave., Suite 208, West Des Moines    ...opened first part of July 2015

State Director  Annie Kelly

(reported by the Des Moines Register on March 2, 2015)  Senior vice president at FP1 Strategies.  A regional political director (top offensive targets) at the NRCC in the 2014 cycle from Jan. 2013.  Managed U.S. Rep. Tom Latham’s successful 2012 campaign against U.S. Rep. Tom Boswell in Iowa.  Deputy state director for Tim Pawlenty's Iowa campaign, and earlier operations director for his Freedom First PAC (announced Oct. 1, 2009).  A senior associate with the Washington-based firm BlueFront Strategies, Feb. 2008-Dec. 2009.  Confidential assistant at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Aug. 2007-Feb. 2008.  Director of administration on the McCain presidential campaign in 2007.  Deputy campaign manager for Pawlenty’s gubernatorial campaign in 2006.  Director of operations for the College Republican National Committee, June 2004-Dec. 2005.  She also interned in the White House Office of Senior Advisor Karl Rove.  B.A. in literature from The George Washington University, 2007.  Philadelphia native.

---

Dr. Ben Carson - Carson America

Headquarters: 2633 86th St., Urbandale 50322-4309

State Director  Ryan Rhodes

(reported by The Iowa Republican, Jan. 16, 2015)  Grassroots director for Sec. of State Matt Schultz in his 2014 Republican primary campaign in Iowa's 3rd CD.  Tea Party outreach director on Michele Bachmann's Iowa caucus campaign (announced Dec. 1, 2011).  Founder and co-chairman of the Iowa Tea Party.  Political director for  Dave Funk in his 2010 Republican primary campaign in Iowa's 3rd CD, and was a consultant for the Iowa Senate Republican Fund on six campaigns during 2010.  Worked at a Chrysler dealership.  Candidate for Iowa House in District 45 in 2008, while a student, losing to Beth Wessel-Kroeschell (D) by 58.2% to 41.8%.  Graduate of Iowa State University.  Iowa native. 

------

The 2016 Committee ... formerly National Draft Ben Carson for President Committee [pro-Carson super PAC]
Headquarters: 8805 Chambery Blvd., Suite 250, Johnston    ...office opening and Christmas Party on the afternoon of Dec. 20, 2014. +

Midwestern Regional  Tina Goff

(April 2014/announced May 19, 2014)  Central Iowa region on Rick Santorum for President from Oct. 2011 but left before the caucuses.  Iowa organizational director on Herman Cain's campaign from May to end of June 2011, when she resigned due to his lack of commitment to competing in Iowa.  Volunteer coordinator/mid-Iowa field director on Branstad 2010 campaign.  Analyst and project manager at Genesis Marketing and Research, Inc., 2008-09.  Central Iowa regional director/volunteer coordinator on Fred Thompson's caucus campaign.  Financial director at Day Care for Exceptional Children, 1997-2007.

---

Gov. Chris Christie - Chris Christie for President

Headquarters: 5525 Merle Hay Rd. #185, Johnston  50131    ...Christie at grand opening on afternoon of Nov. 13, 2015

State Director  Phil Valenziano

(Jan. 26, 2015 NYT report)  Political director on Gov. Terry Branstad's 2014 re-election campaign, May 2013.  Field staffer on Romney's Iowa caucus campaign (May 2011-Jan. 2012), then worked on field in South Carolina, Colorado, Oklahoma and Missouri; and in the fall (from May 2012) was New Hampshire state manager.  Prior to joining the Romey campaign Valenziano worked as a legislative clerk in the Iowa House.  Victory field director in Cedar Rapids for the Republican Party of Iowa.  B.S. in American government and politics from  Catholic University of America, 2007.  New Jersey native.  twitter

---

Sen. Ted Cruz - Cruz for President

Headquarters: 10711 Justin Dr., Urbandale     ...Cruz attended grand opening on Sept. 26, 2015

State Director  Bryan English

(reported by the Houston Chronicle's Kevin Diaz on March 4, 2015)  Research analyst, May 2009-Feb. 2015.  Director of public relations and outreach at the Iowa Family Policy Center, June 2008-Oct. 2010.  Policy advisor to U.S. Rep. Steve King, June 2005-June 2008.  Campaign manager to Iowa state Rep. Mike May, June-Dec. 2004.  Associate pastor at First Baptist Church, Oct. 1998-June 2004; co-founder of Hot Rod Ministries, June 2002-04.  B.A. in fine art from University of Sioux Falls, 1992.  twitter

Chair  Matt Schultz

(announced April 29, 2015)  Elected Madison County attorney in Nov. 2014.  Candidate for the Republican nomination for Congress in the 3rd CD, finishing third in the June 2014 primary.  Elected Iowa Secretary of State in 2010, the youngest statewide official in the United States.  Partner at Coats, Schultz & Watson LLP.  Elected to the Council Bluffs City Council in 2005 and served for five years.  J.D. from Creighton Law School, 2006; B.A. in political science from University of Iowa, 2003; associates degree in behavioral sciences from Brigham Young University-Idaho, 2001.  Missionary in Argentina for two years after high school.  Grew up in Des Moines.  Resident of Truro (Madison County).  (+)

---

Carly Fiorina - Carly for President

Senior Advisor  Chris Rants

(May 7, 2015 at DMR ed. board meeting...see also his May 3 column)  Vice chairman of the board of the Republican State Leadership Committee from Jan. 2011; president of inSight Communications from April 2010; partner at Rauschenberger Partners from March 2010; and president and board member at The Legacy Foundation from Jan. 2009.  Strategist/consultant on U.S. Rep. Thad McCotter's 2011 presidential campaign.  Policy consultant to the Terry Branstad gubernatorial campaign in 2010.  Advisor to Mitt Romney's 2008 Iowa caucus campaign (announced Sept. 27, 2006). First elected to the Iowa Legislature in Nov. 1992 and served through Dec. 2010, including House Republican Leader (Jan. 2007-Nov. 2008), Speaker (Jan. 2003-Dec. 2006) and Majority Leader (May 1999-Jan. 2003).  Environmental compliance director for Metz Baking Company, Nov. 1992-May 1999.  B.A. from Morningside College, 1989.  twitter

------

CARLY for America Committee [pro-Fiorina super PAC]

Headquarters: 5914 Ashworth Rd., West Des Moines

State Director  Mary Earnhardt

(reported by the Iowa Republican on April 10, 2015)  Political director for Fiorina's Unlocking Potential PAC, announced Aug. 26, 2014 and state director of UPP from Dec. 2014.  Vice president of government affairs at PolicyWorks. Operated her own consulting firm and was the campaign manager for John Archer's 2012 congressional campaign in the 2nd CD (lost to U.S. Rep. Loebsack).  Policy director for Iowans for Tax Relief, 2008-11 (ITR's chief lobbyist).  Worked in the Iowa Legislature for eight years first as an aide to the House Majority Leader and for seven legislative sessions as the senior Republican staff member for the House Ways and Means Committee.  Degree in finance from Iowa State University.  Davenport native.  twitter

---

Sen. Lindsey Graham - Lindsey Graham 2016   ...suspended campaign Dec. 21, 2015
State Director  Tracie Gibler

(reported by the Des Moines Register as senior advisor on March 12, 2015)  Consultant to the Iowa Senate Republican Majority Fund and Miller-Meeks for Congress from June 2014.  Chief of staff to U.S. Rep. Steve King, June 2013-March 2014.  Worked in the Office of the Senate Republican Leader, Jan.-June 2013.  Director of the Senate Republican Majority Fund, March-Dec. 2012.  Iowa political director on Pawlenty for President.  Campaign manager on Miller-Meeks for Congress, 2010.  Director of development for Americans for Limited Government, 2009.  Research analyst for Berman & Company, 2008.  Southeast Iowa regional field director and also worked field in Florida for the Rudy Giuliani Presidential Committee, 2007-08.  J.D. from Drake University Law School, 2007; undergraduate degree from Northwestern University, 2003.  twitter

---

Former Gov. Mike Huckabee - Huckabee for President

Headquarters: 3100 100th St., Urbandale   ...Huckabee did grand opening on the evening of June 30, 2015

State Director  Aaron Trost

(announced Aug. 27, 2015)  Senior associate at the Singularis Group.  Campaign manager for Deb Fischer for U.S. Senate in Nebraska, 2011-12.  Direct mail consultant with the Singularis Group.  Bachelor’s degree in business administration from the Henry W. Bloch School of Business and Public Administration at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.  Illinois native.

------

Pursuing America's Greatness [pro-Huckabee super PAC]

President  Nick Ryan

(reported by the New York Times Maggie Haberman on April 2, 2015)  President of Concordia Group LLC in Des Moines from Aug. 2007; founder of American Future Fund, a 501(c)(4) multi-state advocacy group, from Aug. 2007; and founder and chairman of Global Intermediate LLC, a national mail and political communications firm, from Oct. 2011.  In 2011 Ryan founded Red, White & Blue Fund, the pro-Santorum super PAC. Advisor, strategist and manager to U.S. Rep. Jim Nussle, March 2000-Nov. 2006.  J.D. from Drake University Law School; B.A. in political science from University of Iowa.  mtryan.com, twitter

Jill Latham

A principal at Concordia Group LLC.  Deputy campaign manager (from Jan. 2012) and earlier Iowa senior advisor (from Jan. 2011) on Rick Santorum for President.  Political director on Mitt Romney's 2007-08 Iowa caucus campaign.  Political director for the Republican Party of Wisconsin in the 2006 cycle.  Field staffer on Bush-Cheney '04 in Wisconsin.  Staff assistant, then legislative clerk for the U.S. House Energy and Commerce committee, June 2001-May 2004.  From Alexander, Iowa; daughter of Rep. Tom Latham (R-IA).  B.A. from the University of Colorado, Boulder, 2001.

---

Gov. Bobby Jindal - Jindal for President   ...suspended campaign Nov. 17, 2015
Iowa Director  Matt Horihan

(reported by the DMR's Jennifer Jacobs on April 20, 2015 as Iowa director of American Future Project)  Strategist on David Young's successful 2014 campaign for Congress in Iowa's 3rd CD.  Legislative assistant at Alston & Bird LLP, Jan.-Oct. 2013.  Legislative correspondent for Sen. Grassley, Sept. 2009-March 2012.  Managed Tami Wiencek's campaign for state House in 2006, defeating long-term incumbent Don Shoultz.  Bachelor's degree in political science from University of Northern Iowa, 2009.  twitter

---

Sen. Rand Paul - Rand Paul for President, Inc.

Headquarters: 1901 Bell Ave., Suite 21, Des Moines    ...Sen. Paul did grand opening on July 2, 2015.

Iowa Chief Strategist  Steve Grubbs

(announced June 30, 2014)  Founder (1993) and CEO of Victory Enterprises, Inc., a consulting and communications firm based in Davenport.  State chairman on Herman Cain's 2011 Iowa caucus campaign.  Consultant on Tommy Thompson's 2007 Iowa campaign.  Senior advisor on the Forbes 2000 campaign.  Chairman of the Republican Party of Iowa, 1998.  Candidate for U.S. Senate, 1996.  Iowa Caucus chairman, Dole for President, 1996.  State Representative, 1991-97.  Polling and research director for Tauke for Congress, 1988.  Campus director of University of Iowa Students for Dole in 1987, then a field staffer for Dole for President in 1988.  J.D., University of Iowa School of Law, 1994.  B.B.A., University of Iowa School of Business, 1989.  twitter

------

Concerned American Voters [pro-Paul super PAC]

President  Jeff Frazee

Executive director of Young Americans for Liberty.  National youth coordinator for Ron Paul's 2008 presidential campaign.  Deputy campus services coordinator for the Leadership Institute.  Degree in telecommunications and media studies from Texas A&M, 2005.
...announced June 18, 2015 claiming "millions of dollars committed and 40 full-time field staff in the key primary state of Iowa."

---

Former Gov. Rick Perry - Perry for President, Inc.  ...suspended campaign Sept. 11, 2015

Senior Strategist  Robert Haus

(senior advisor to Perry from 2014)  Vice president at Policy Works LLC, Nov. 2010-May 2014.  Iowa chairman of the Rick Perry campaign, 2011-12.  Co-founder and owner of Eagle Media Group LLC, Nov. 2005-Nov. 2010.  Iowa state director on Fred Thompson's 2007-08 Iowa caucus campaign.   Managing consultant for public policy and public affairs (corporate communications and issue campaigns) for DCI Group, 2000-06.  Senior Iowa consultant on Steve Forbes' 2000 Iowa caucus campaign.  Managed Sen. Phil Gramm's 1996 Iowa caucus campaign.  Managed Sen. Chuck Grassley's 1992 re-election campaign.  Worked for the Iowa Senate Republican Caucus.  Graduate of Iowa State University; law degree from the University of Iowa, 1988.  twitter

State Director/Senior Director (National)  Jamie Johnson

(first reported by DMR's Jennifer Jacobs on March 18, 2015; and state director from latter part of Aug. 2015)  Member of the Republican Party of Iowa State Central Committee, 2012-March 2015.  Vice President at World-Wide Missions, 2005-March 2015.  State coalitions director on Rick Santorum for President, 2011-12.  CEO/public affairs broadcaster for the Faith and Freedom Network, 2002-10.  Instructor at Iowa Central Community College in Fort Dodge, 2001-04; instructor at DMACC in West Des Moines, 2001-02.  M.A. in public policy from Regent University, 1997; B.A. in theology from Bethany Global University, 1987  Resident of Stratford, Iowa.  twitter

------

Opportunity and Freedom PAC [pro-Perry super PAC]

State Director  Marshall Critchfield

(announced Aug. 31, 2015)   Critchfield is stepping down from his role as Jasper County Republican Party chairman (elected Oct. 2013).  He has worked for U.S. consumer operations at Wells Fargo Home Mortgage from March 2009, as development manager at K. Hovnanian Homes, project manager at Osprey, and as a legislative assistant on Capitol Hill.  M.B.A. from Palm Beach Atlantic University, 2008.  twitter

---

Sen. Marco Rubio - Marco Rubio for President

Headquarters: 207 N.E. Delaware Ave., Suite 24, Ankeny     ...opened mid-Aug. 2015

Chairman  State Sen. Jack Whitver

(announced May 4, 2015)  Elected to the state Senate in Nov. 2010, represents District 19 (Ankeny, Alleman and North Des Moines); elected Whip in 2014 (1, 2, 3).  Attorney at Whitaker Hagenow & Gustoff LLP from Oct. 2013, owner of CrossFit Des Moines from Aug. 2012 and owner of Acceleration Iowa Sports Training from Feb. 2004.  J.D. from Drake University Law School, 2012; M.B.A. (2003) and B.S. (2002) from Iowa State University; at Iowa State Whitver was a three-year starter as wide receiver for the Cyclones.  Lifelong Iowan; grew up in Grinnell.

---

Former Sen. Rick Santorum - Santorum for President

Headquarters: 2775 86th St., Urbandale    ...announced Oct. 14, 2015
Former: 2041 Grand Ave., Suite A, West Des Moines   ...June/July 2015.

Chair  State Rep. Walt Rogers

(announced March 16, 2015)  First elected to the Iowa House in 2010 defeating an incumbent Democrat; represents District 60, Cedar Falls;  elected as an assistant Majority Leader in his freshman term.  Candidate for the 1st CD Republican nomination, but withdrew in Feb. 2014.  Leadership consultant.  Also has experience as a concert/event planner, including founding and directing Onefest, one of the largest indoor musical festivals in the Midwest.  Bachelor's degree in technology from University of Northern Iowa, 1984.  (Note Rogers also endorsed Santorum in 2011 (+).

Senior Advisor  Cody M. Brown

(announced July 6, 2015)  Currently founder and principal at Codias, an organizational design company.  Iowa state director on Santorum's 2011-12 Iowa caucus campaign.  Managed Ben Lange's 2010 congressional campaign in CD-1.  Senior counsel and chief of legal research for the Project on National Security Reform.  Legislative counsel for a member of the House Homeland Security Committee.  Majority staff of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.  B.S. from Northwestern College in St. Paul, MN, J.D. from Hamline University Law School, and LL.M. from Georgetown University Law Center.  Author of The National Security Council: A Legal History of the President’s Most Powerful Advisers.

State Coordinator  Patti Brown

Director of the Iowa Policy Institute, LLC.  Has worked in medical, mental health and hospice social work settings with patients of all age groups.  Has also worked as a staff writer, correspondent and columnist for several publications, including The Des Moines Register and The Catholic Mirror.  M.S. in journalism and mass communication from Iowa State University, M.S.W. from the University of Iowa; working towards a Ph.D. at Iowa State University concentrating on the rhetoric of politics and policy..  twtiter

---

Donald Trump - Donald J. Trump for President, Inc.

Headquarters: 3330 Westown Pkwy, Suite 15, West Des Moines, Iowa 50265    ...started opening in Aug. 2015

State Director  Chuck Laudner

(reported by the Des Moines Register on Feb. 25, 2015)  On Jan. 24, 2015 the Des Moines Register reported that Laudner had been named camapign coordinator for Tea Party Patriots Citizens Fund.  Campaign manager on Sam Clovis' U.S. Senate primary campaign in 2014.  Prominent supporter of Rick Santorum in 2011-12 Iowa Caucus campaign.  Managed the anti-retention campaign (Iowa for Freedom) in 2010.  Executive director of the Republican Party of Iowa, 2007-08.  Chief of staff to Rep. Steve King, 2003-06, and senior policy advisor for several months at the end of 2006.  In 2002 Laudner guided Steve King to victory in four-way special nominating convention in the 5th CD.  Managed Bill Salier's 2002 primary campaign against Sen. Chuck Grassley.  Worked on Steve Forbes' 2000 campaign.

---

Gov. Scott Walker - Scott Walker Inc.   ...suspended campaign Sept. 21, 2015

Headquarters: 2775 86th St., Urbandale    ...Our American Revival opened first part of Feb. 2015.
[The Washington Post reported on Feb. 8, 2015 that OAR had leased office space in Urbandale;The Des Moines Register reported the address on Feb. 10].

Senior Iowa Advisor  David Polyansky

(first reported on Jan. 23, 2015 by the Des Moines Register)  President at New Strategies Group, based in Houston.  Strategist on Joni Ernst's 2014 U.S. Senate campaign.  CEO and deputy campaign manager on Michele Bachmann's campaign to early Sept. 2011.  Chief operating officer and senior advisor on Mike Huckabee's campaign starting early Nov. 2007.  Came to the Huckabee campaign from his position as chief operating officer of Americans for Fair Taxation, 2006-07.  Attorney at McFall, Sherwood & Breitbeil in Houston.  Served in Iraq in 2004-05 with the 1st Battalion, 23rd Marines, a Houston-based Marine Corps Infantry Battalion, in Al Anbar.  Attorney practicing commercial litigation defense in Houston.  Experience includes campaign manager for an initiative campaign, spokesperson and policy director for a congressional candidate, volunteer for a presidential election, chief of staff for a City of Houston council member, and an account executive with an advertising/public relations agency during law school.  Veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps; served on active duty from 1992-97.  J.D. from the University of Houston Law Center, 2002; B.S. in political science from the University of St. Thomas.  twitter

State Director Josie Peterson 

Political director at Just Win Strategies from Jan. 2015.  Deputy political director (July-Nov. 2014) and statewide field director (Jan.-June 2014) on Joni Ernst for U.S. Senate.  B.A. in political science and government from University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, 2013.  twitter

---

Mark Everson - MarkForAmerica, Inc.   ...suspended campaign Nov. 5, 2015

Headquarters: 108 Third St., Suite 304, Des Moines, Iowa  50309  

---

DEMOCRATS

Former Sec. of State Hillary Clinton - Hillary for America

Headquarters: downtown Des Moines near 5th and Crocker
plus organizing offices   ...announced June 3, 2015

State Director  Matt Paul

(reported March 4, 2015 by The Washington Post's Philip Rucker and Dan Balz; left USDA on March 16)  Director of communications at the U.S. Department of Agriculture since June 2011.  Joined Link Strategies in 2007; in 2010 developed a new branch of the firm, LPCA Public Strategies, and served as vice president there until May 2011.  Campaign manager on Sen. Tom Harkin's 2008 re-election campaign.  Campaign manager on Mike Blouin's 2006 gubernatorial campaign.  Press secretary, communications director and senior advisor to Gov. Tom Vilsack, 1998-2007.  Deputy state director on Howard Dean's Iowa caucus campaign, 2003-04.   Spokesman for Cedar Rapids Mayor Larry Serbousek from 1994 and for Mayor Lee R. Clancey from 1996.  News reporter in Cedar Rapids, 1992-94.  Graduate of Mount Mercy College, 1993.  twitter

---