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Ted Cruz Organization—Pre-Campaign
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(page updated March 22, 2015)

Jobs, Growth and Freedom Fund FEC  leadership PAC filed on Nov. 14, 2012. 
Ted Cruz Victory Committee FEC  joint fundraising committee filed on March 1, 2013.
Ted Cruz for Senate FEC  campaign committee.

@TeamTedCruz      


Political Organization [consultant]  Jeff Roe

(reported on Aug. 28, 2014 by Washington Examiner's Dave Drucker "organizational guidance and help run Cruz' more nationally focused operation")  Founder (2005) of Axiom Strategies, based in Kansas City, MO.  Has run dozens of campaigns, helping to elect 31 congressmen and 4 U.S. Senators.  A consultant to Gov. Rick Perry's 2011-12 presidential campaign.  Worked on voter ID on Mike Huckabee's 2008 campaign.  Started out working for then-state Rep. Sam Graves in 1994; held elect him to the state Senate and to Congress in 2000; served as Graves' chief of staff.  Graduated from Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville.  Served in the Army National Guard.  Native of Brookfield, MO.  twitter


Chief Strategist/General Consultant  Jason Johnson

(from Jan. 2011)  Owner of J2 Strategies in Austin from Sept. 2004 to present.  Key figure on Cruz's 2012 primary and general election campaigns.  Chief of staff to Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott, 2002-04.  Campaign manager on Abbott for Attorney General, 2002.  Communications director to state Sen. Todd Staples, 2000-01.  Camapign manager on Todd Staples for State Senate, 1999-2000.  Attended Texas A&M University.  twitter


Political  Nick Muzin

(reported on Aug. 28, 2014 by Politico's Burgess Everett and John Bresnahan)  Announced in July 2014 as deputy chief of staff for strategy in the Senate office.  Director of coalitions for the House Republican Conference starting Jan. 2013.  Chief of staff and political director to then Congressman Tim Scott, Jan. 2011-Jan. 2013.  Corporate counsel at The InterTech Group, Jan. 2008-Dec. 2010.  Senior medical advisor on John McCain 2008.  Attorney at Williams & Connolly LLP, Sept. 2005-Jan. 2008.  Legal counsel at the Republican National Committee, Aug.-Nov. 2004.  J.D. from Yale Law School, 2005; M.D. from Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 2001; B.A. in biology from Yeshiva University, 1997.  twitter

Political  Joel Mowbray

(reported on Aug. 28, 2014 by Politico's Burgess Everett and John Bresnahan)  Consultant at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies.  Syndicated columnist for the Tribune Company.  Author of Dangerous Diplomacy: How the State Department Threatens America's Security (Regnery).  Reporter at National Review, 2002-03.  Founder and vice president of business development at Price Compare Technologies, 2000-02.  Legislative assistant to U.S. Rep. Mark Sanford, 1999.  Policy analyst at Pioneer Strategies, 1997-98.  Graduate of the University of Illinois and Georgetown Law School.  Grew up in the south suburbs of Chicago.


Communications and Digital [consultant]  Jason Miller

(reported on Aug. 28, 2014 by Washington Examiner's Dave Drucker)  Partner and executive vice president at Jamestown Associates from Jan. 2010.  Executive at a communications firm.  Deputy director of communications in charge of rapid response and surrogate speakers on the Rudy Giuliani campaign from April 2007 to 2008.  Deputy chief of staff to South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford.  Campaign manager for Sanford's 2006 re-election campaign; he came to the Sanford campaign after serving as campaign manager for Sen. George Allen's 2006 re-election campaign through late 2005.  In 2003-04 Miller was campaign manager for Jack Ryan's U.S. Senate campaign in Illinois, and after that effort ended he worked on Tom Coburn's U.S. Senate campaign in Oklahoma.  Campaign manager on Ric Keller's successful 2000 campaign for Congress in Florida's 8th CD, then served as chief of staff to the Florida Congressman.  Worked for Sen. Slade Gorton (R-WA).  Graduate of The George Washington University.  Native of Seattle, Washington.  twitter

Senior Advisor  Brian Phillips

(start March 14, 2015; reported by the Washington Times on March 9, 2015)  Communications director to U.S. Sen. Mike Lee from Feb. 2011.  Campaign manager on Sean Bielat for Congress.  Communications director on Poliquin for Governor, April 2009-June 2010.  Press secretary to U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce (NM), May 2007-Dec. 2008; communications director on People for Pearce, Oct. 2007-Nov. 2008.  Manager of media relations at the Tax Foundation, July 2006-May 2007.  Media associate at the Heritage Foundation, Jan. 2004July 2006.

Senior Communications Advisor  Rick Tyler

(reported Feb. 9, 2015 by the Houston Chronicle +)  Principal at The Growth Factory from Jan. 2015; associate at the Strategy Group Commpany from May 2013.  Senior advisor to Winning Our Future, a pro-Gingrich super PAC, from late 2011.  Worked for Newt Gingrich from June 1999-June 2011.  Press secretary and spokesman on the first interation of Gingrich's presidential campaign through June. 2011.  Spokesman to Gingrich; founding director of Renewing American Leadership, a 501(c)(3) organization (Gingrich  honorary chairman).  Tyler was a candidate field trainer for GOPAC for 10 years.  Executive director of the Maine Republican Party, 1995-99.  Originally from Hampton, NH.  twitter

Communications  Catherine Frazier

(reported by the Texas Tribune's Abby Livingston on March 10, 2015; leaving as press secretary in the Senate office at the end of March 2015)  Press secretary in Cruz's Senate office from Jan. 2013-end of March 2015.  Press secretary in the Office of Gov. Rick Perry, Feb. 2012-Jan. 2013.  Deputy communications director (March-Dec. 2010) and deputy press secretary (from Sept. 2009) at Texans for Rick Perry.  Senior writer, press assistant, and scheduler in the Office of Gov. Rick Perry from Jan. 2007.  B.S. in public relations and B.A. in government from University of Texas at Austin, 2006.  twitter


Digital Director  Josh Perry

(reported by the Texas Tribune's Patrick Svitek on March 18, 2015) Digital director in Cruz's Senate office.  Digital director for the Ted Cruz for Senate campaign. Prior to joining the campaign he worked at Harris Media and the Republican Party of Texas. Perry is a graduate of The University of Texas at Austin and native of Port Arthur, Texas.  twitter


National Fundraising [consultant]  Lauren Lofstrom

(reported on Aug. 28, 2014 by Washington Examiner's Dave Drucker)  Worked at the Republican Governors Association as recruitment director in the 2012 cycle and Governors Roundtable and Club membership director in the 2010 cycle.  Finance director for the Dino Rossi for Governor 2008 campaign.  Scheduling assistant to U.S. Sen. Gordon Smith from late 2006-Oct. 2007.  B.A. in communication and media studies from Washington State University, 2006.

Finance Director  Rachel Dawson

Finance director on Cruz's 2012 campaign for U.S. Senate.  Deputy director of events at the Republican Governors Association, July-Sept. 2011.  Finance assistant (April-Dec. 2010) and finance intern (Sept. 2009-March 2010) on Gov. Rick Perry’s 2010 re-election campaign, .  B.S. in event management from University of Florida, 2009.  Originally from Orlando, FL.


Polling  Chris Perkins

Partner at WPA Opinion Research since March 2009 and runs the firms Texas office.  Manager of the independent expenditure (IE) unit for the RNC, July 2006-Dec. 2008.  Executive director of Americans for a Republican Majority PAC, the leadership PAC of former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, Jan. 2001-June 2006; oversaw the 2003 Texas redistricting process for Republicans.  B.S. in political science and government from Abilene Christian University, 1999.

IOWA

Senior Advisor  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.


SOUTH CAROLINA

Senior Advisor  LaDonna Ryggs

(reported by the the Washington Examiner's David Drucker on March 17, 2015 +)  Based in Greer, Ryggs has worked as a communications consultant (Just Saying Communications) since Aug. 2014.  Managing editor of Palladian View, a digital outreach movement for Republican women, Sept. 2011-March 2014.  Chair of the Spartanburg County GOP, 2009-13.  Administrative assistant to the directors of publishing and marketing at Bob Jones University, June 1999-Sept. 2011.  B.S. in speech education (1986) and M.A. in platform arts (2003) from Bob Jones University.  Ryggs also served as president of the South Carolina Federation of Republican Women from Jan. 2006-Dec. 2007.




Notes:
>In a Nov. 6, 2014 article U.S. News' David Catanese reported, "Sen. Ted Cruz has deployed advisers to begin scoping out office space for a potential 2016 presidential campaign, a source with knowledge of the move tells U.S. News."

>Endorsement: Saul Anuzis, former chairman of the Michigan Republican Party (Dec. 30, 2014)

     
      former

Senior Political Advisor  Chip Roy   ...reported Nov. 18, 2014 to serve as First Assistant Attorney General to Texas Attorney General-elect Ken Paxton

(announced as senior political advisior Sept. 10, 2014; previously chief of staff to Sen. Cruz from the outset of his tenure (first reported by DMN Todd Gillman on Nov. 28, 2012) to Sept. 2014).  Senior advisor to Texas Gov. Rick Perry.  Senior advisor on Perry's presidential campaign.  Director of state-federal relations in the Office of the Governor of Texas.  Per Todd Gillman, ghost writer for Perry's book Fed Up!  Special assistant U.S. Attorney in the Eastern District of Texas.  Roy worked for Sen. John Cornyn from 2002-09, including as staff director at the Republican Conference; senior counsel on the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee; and staffer on Sen. Cornyn's 2002 campaign for Senate.  Bachelor's degree in commerce and master's degree in management information systems from the University of Virginia; law degree from the University of Texas.  twitter


Other key people in Cruz-land
> Senate Office
www.cruz.senate.gov  |  SenatorTedCruz  |  @SenTedCruz


Chief of Staff  Paul Teller

(announced Sept. 10, 2014)  Previously deputy chief of staff (announced Jan. 13, 2014).  Worked at the Republican Study Committee (RSC) from Feb. 2001 to Dec. 2013, as legislative director, deputy director and director until he was fired by RSC chair U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise on Dec. 12, 2013.  A staff member for the Committee on House Administration under Rep. Bill Thomas, 2000-01.  Senior account executive at The Washington Times, national weekly edition, 1996-99.  Research associate at the National Center for Public Policy Research, summer 1996.  Advertising director at the College Republican National Committee, 1994-95.  Ph.D. in political science from American University, 1999; bachelor’s degree in political science from Duke University, 1993.

Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations  James Christoferson

(announced Sept. 10, 2014)  "Over ten years of senior legislative experience on Capitol Hill, including as deputy chief of staff and legislative director for former U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX).  Most recently, he served as clerk of the Senate Appropriations’ Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice and Science (CJS).  Christoferson also has extensive experience working in Texas state and local governments, including coordinating the economic development efforts for the Denton County Judge and serving as Texas’ Director of the Office of Defense Affairs, where he managed programs to assist communities adversely impacted by the federal Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process.  Christoferson holds a bachelor’s degree from Hardin-Simmons University."

Senior Advisor  Brooke Bacak

(announced July 7, 2014; previously legislative director from Jan. 2013)  Assistant dean at the University of Alabama School of Law.  Formerly served as U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn’s (R-OK) Senate Judiciary Committee chief counsel as well as on the staffs of Sens. Kyl and Sessions.  Law degree from the University of Alabama School of Law; bachelor’s degree from Auburn University.

Senior Policy Advisor  Sean Rushton

(senior policy advisor from April 2014; communications director from Jan. 2013)  Worked on the Cruz campaign as senior advisor for communications.  Director of corporate communications at Mission Essential Personnel, LLC, March 2009-Aug. 2012.  Communications director at the U.S. Small Business Administration, Dec. 2006-Jan. 2009.  Executive director of C. Boyden Gray’s Committee for Justice, 2003-06.  Media director at Citizens Against Government Waste, 2000-03.  Press secretary for U.S. Rep. Bill Archer (R-TX), 1998-2000.  Deputy press secretary for U.S. Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA), 1996-98. B.S. in foreign service, international relations, law and organization (1995); and M.A. in liberal studies (2001) from Georgetown University.  twitter

Legislative Director  Jeff Murray

(announced July 7, 2014)  "Most recently served as Sen. Cruz's deputy legislative director, managing issues before the Senate Commerce Committee. He previously served as legislative counsel to Sen. Jim DeMint, R-SC, where he managed issues before the Senate Banking Committee. Prior to joining the Senate, he was director of legislative affairs for the Nickles Group and legislative counsel to Congressman Tom Feeney. Jeff received a bachelor's degree from Auburn University and a law degree from Samford University Cumberland School of Law."

Communications Director  Amanda Carpenter

(announced as communications director on Nov. 12, 2014; previously speechwriter and senior communications advisor from Jan. 2013)  Speechwriter and senior communications advisor to U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint, Feb. 2010-Jan. 2013.  Columnist, reporter and blogger at The Washington Times, April 2009-Feb. 2010.  National political reporter at Townhall.com and Townhall magazine, Feb. 2008-April 2009.  Election blogger for Glamour magazine, 2008.  Congressional correspondent for Human Events, Aug. 2005-Feb. 2008.  B.A. in communications from Ball State University, 2005.  Native of Montrose, MI.  twitter

Press Secretary  Catherine Frazier

(Jan. 2013)  Press secretary in the Office of Gov. Rick Perry, Feb. 2012-Jan. 2013.  Deputy communications director (March-Dec. 2010) and deputy press secretary (from Sept. 2009) at Texans for Rick Perry.  Senior writer, press assistant, and scheduler in the Office of Gov. Rick Perry from Jan. 2007.  B.S. in public relations and B.A. in government from University of Texas at Austin, 2006.    ...to PAC

Deputy Press Secretary  Phil Novack

(announced Nov. 12, 2014)  "Most recently worked at Salesforce in San Francisco, where he led communications for the company’s public sector business and several of its fastest-growing apps. He previously led global communications for Mindjet and began his Silicon Valley career at Sparkpr. Novack served on the communications staff of 2006 Michigan gubernatorial candidate Dick DeVos and began his political career working for former Michigan Gov. John Engler. He holds a bachelor’s degree in history from Princeton University and is a native of Warren, MI."  twitter

Digital Director  Josh Perry

(announced Nov. 12, 2014)  Most recently served as digital director for the Ted Cruz for Senate campaign. Prior to joining the campaign he worked at Harris Media and the Republican Party of Texas. Perry is a graduate of The University of Texas at Austin and native of Port Arthur, Texas.  ...to PAC

Deputy Digital Director  Jack Minor

(announced Nov. 12, 2014)  Most recently served as a digital associate at Heritage Action for America. He has also served as a digital and creative consultant to multiple congressional campaigns. Minor received bachelor's degrees in political science and broadcast journalism from Elon University and is a native of Conover, North Carolina.

Senior Economist and Director of Outreach  Max Pappas

(Jan. 2013)  Vice president of public policy and government affairs at FreedomWorks, May 2008-Dec. 2012.  Director of research at BGR Group (formerly Barbour Griffith & Rogers), 2006-08.  Policy analyst/director of policy at FreedomWorks, 2003-06.  Research assistant to P.J. O'Rourke; also did freelance writing, 2001-03.  Candidate for state representative in Massachusetts, April-Nov. 2002.  Research assistant at the Cato Institute, 1999-2000.  M.Sc. from London School of Economics and Political Science, 1999; B.A. in economics from the College of the Holy Cross, 1997.

Director of Scheduling  Dougie Simmons

(Jan. 2013)  Director of events at the RNC, Oct. 2011-Dec. 2012.  Scheduler to Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, Aug. 2009-Dec. 2011.  Associate at The Larrison Group, July 207-Oct. 2008.  Executive assistant to the Director of the National Economic Council at the White House, Feb. 2005-Aug. 2007.  Scheduler in the Office of Presidential Scheduling at the White House, May 2004-Feb. 2005.  Scheduler in the Office of the Secretary at the U.S. Department of the Treasury, April 2003-May 2004.  Staff assistant to Sen. Jeff Sessions, Jan.-Aprii 2003.  Graduate of the University of Alabama, 2002.

Administrative Director  Kimberly Levernier

(started in Nov. 2012)  Administrative director to Sen. Ron Johnson, Jan. 2011-Nov. 2012.  Administrative director (2006-Jan. 2011) and scheduler (2005-06) for Sen. Jim Bunning.  North American events manager at Alltech, 2002-05.  Graduate of Centre College, 2002.

Chief Counsel  Scott Keller

(Jan. 2013)  Associate at Yetter Coleman LLP, Nov. 2010-Jan. 2013.  Judicial clerk for U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy, July 2009-July 2010.  Fellow in the Office of the Soliciter General at the U.S. Department of Justice, 2008-09.  Judicial clerk for Chief Judge Alex Kozinski at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, 2007-08.  J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law, 2007; B.A. in political science and philosophy from Purdue University, 2004.

State Director  John Drogin

(Jan. 2013)  Campaign manager at Ted Cruz for Senate from Jan. 2011 to present.  Associate at Caddo Associates, April 2010 to present.  Campaign manager at Texans for Ted Cruz, July 2009-April 2010.  Press secretary (Aug. 2003-July 2008) and deputy press secretary (Dec. 2002-Aug. 2003) to Sen. John Cornyn; deputy press secretary on the Cornyn for Senate campaign, March-Dec. 2002.  Chief correspondent for Inside the Vatican magazine and senior reporter at Vatican Radio.  Undergraduate degree from Berea College.  twitter




Pre-Campaign Organization (to Nov. 4, 2014)


Chief Strategist/General Consultant  Jason Johnson

(from Jan. 2011)  Owner of J2 Strategies in Austin from Sept. 2004 to present.  Chief of staff to Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott, 2002-04.  Campaign manager on Abbott for Attorney General, 2002.  Communications director to state Sen. Todd Staples, 2000-01.  Camapign manager on Todd Staples for State Senate, 1999-2000.  Attended Texas A&M University.  twitter


Political Organization [consultant]  Jeff Roe

(reported on Aug. 28, 2014 by Washington Examiner's Dave Drucker "organizational guidance and help run Cruz' more nationally focused operation")  Founder (2005) of Axiom Strategies, based in Kansas City, MO.  Has run dozens of campaigns, helping to elect 31 congressmen and 4 U.S. Senators.  A consultant to Gov. Rick Perry's 2011-12 presidential campaign.  Worked on voter ID on Mike Huckabee's 2008 campaign.  Started out working for then-state Rep. Sam Graves in 1994; held elect him to the state Senate and to Congress in 2000; served as Graves' chief of staff.  Graduated from Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville.  Served in the Army National Guard.  Native of Brookfield, MO.  twitter

Political  Nick Muzin

(reported on Aug. 28, 2014 by Politico's Burgess Everett and John Bresnahan)  Announced in July 2014 as deputy chief of staff for strategy in the Senate office.  Director of coalitions for the House Republican Conference starting Jan. 2013.  Chief of staff and political director to then Congressman Tim Scott, Jan. 2011-Jan. 2013.  Corporate counsel at The InterTech Group, Jan. 2008-Dec. 2010.  Senior medical advisor on John McCain 2008.  Attorney at Williams & Connolly LLP, Sept. 2005-Jan. 2008.  Legal counsel at the Republican National Committee, Aug.-Nov. 2004.  J.D. from Yale Law School, 2005; M.D. from Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 2001; B.A. in biology from Yeshiva University, 1997.  twitter

Political  Joel Mowbray

(reported on Aug. 28, 2014 by Politico's Burgess Everett and John Bresnahan)  Consultant at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies.  Syndicated columnist for the Tribune Company.  Author of Dangerous Diplomacy: How the State Department Threatens America's Security (Regnery).  Reporter at National Review, 2002-03.  Founder and vice president of business development at Price Compare Technologies, 2000-02.  Legislative assistant to U.S. Rep. Mark Sanford, 1999.  Policy analyst at Pioneer Strategies, 1997-98.  Graduate of the University of Illinois and Georgetown Law School.  Grew up in the south suburbs of Chicago.

Senior Political Advisor  Chip Roy 

(announced as senior political advisior Sept. 10, 2014; previously chief of staff to Sen. Cruz from the outset of his tenure (first reported by DMN Todd Gillman on Nov. 28, 2012) to Sept. 2014).  Senior advisor to Texas Gov. Rick Perry.  Senior advisor on Perry's presidential campaign.  Director of state-federal relations in the Office of the Governor of Texas.  Per Todd Gillman, ghost writer for Perry's book Fed Up!  Special assistant U.S. Attorney in the Eastern District of Texas.  Roy worked for Sen. John Cornyn from 2002-09, including as staff director at the Republican Conference; senior counsel on the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee; and staffer on Sen. Cornyn's 2002 campaign for Senate.  Bachelor's degree in commerce and master's degree in management information systems from the University of Virginia; law degree from the University of Texas.  twitter


Communications and Digital [consultant]  Jason Miller

(reported on Aug. 28, 2014 by Washington Examiner's Dave Drucker)  Partner and executive vice president at Jamestown Associates from Jan. 2010.  Executive at a communications firm.  Deputy director of communications in charge of rapid response and surrogate speakers on the Rudy Giuliani campaign from April 2007 to 2008.  Deputy chief of staff to South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford.  Campaign manager for Sanford's 2006 re-election campaign; he came to the Sanford campaign after serving as campaign manager for Sen. George Allen's 2006 re-election campaign through late 2005.  In 2003-04 Miller was campaign manager for Jack Ryan's U.S. Senate campaign in Illinois, and after that effort ended he worked on Tom Coburn's U.S. Senate campaign in Oklahoma.  Campaign manager on Ric Keller's successful 2000 campaign for Congress in Florida's 8th CD, then served as chief of staff to the Florida Congressman.  Worked for Sen. Slade Gorton (R-WA).  Graduate of The George Washington University.  Native of Seattle, Washington.  twitter


National Fundraising [consultant]  Lauren Lofstrom

(reported on Aug. 28, 2014 by Washington Examiner's Dave Drucker)  Worked at the Republican Governors Association as recruitment director in the 2012 cycle and Governors Roundtable and Club membership director in the 2010 cycle.  Finance director for the Dino Rossi for Governor 2008 campaign.  Scheduling assistant to U.S. Sen. Gordon Smith from late 2006-Oct. 2007.  B.A. in communication and media studies from Washington State University, 2006.

Finance Director  Rachel Dawson

Finance director on Cruz's 2012 campaign for U.S. Senate.  Deputy director of events at the Republican Governors Association, July-Sept. 2011.  Finance assistant (April-Dec. 2010) and finance intern (Sept. 2009-March 2010) on Gov. Rick Perry’s 2010 re-election campaign, .  B.S. in event management from University of Florida, 2009.  Originally from Orlando, FL.

Polling  WPA Opinion Research



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