American Bridge 21st Century
     [website | facebook | twitter]   ...back
see also: 2014 edition

(page updated May 22, 2015; revised per request Nov. 4, 2018)


"super PAC" formed Nov. 23, 2011 [FEC] and 501(c)(4)

"American Bridge 21st Century is a progressive research and communications organization committed to holding Republicans accountable for their words and actions and helping you ascertain when Republican candidates are pretending to be something they’re not."

Note:  On May 12, 2015, American Bridge 21st Century announced it was spinning off Correct the Record into a separate super PAC.  Brad Woodhouse moved over to become president of that and Jessica Mackler ascended to president of American Bridge 21st Century


Founder  David Brock

Founder (May 2004) and CEO of Media Matters for America.  Renounced conservative ties in 1997 (Esquire "Confessions of a Right-Wing Hit Man").  Investigative writer for The American Spectator.  Editorial page editor at the Washington Times.  Writer and senior editor at Insight magazine.  B.A. in history from UC Berkeley, 1985.  Author of five books.


Chair  formerly Kathleen Kennedy Townsend



President  Jessica Mackler

(announced May 12, 2015; announced April 1, 2013 as vice president and campaign director)  Campaign manager on U.S. Rep. Shelley Berkley’s U.S. Senate race in Nevada, June 2011-Nov. 2012.  Campaign manager for U.S. Rep. Frank Kratovil in the MD-01 congressional race in 2010.  Consultant to American Rights at Work, Dec. 2008-April 2010.  Research director on Friends of Mary Landrieu, Aug. 2007-Feb. 2010.  Owner of the Athena Group, a political research and strategy firm, Feb. 2005-July 2007.  Deputy research director (June 2003-Feb. 2005) and researcher (July 2001-June 2003) at EMILY's List.  UC San Diego.  twitter

Vice President C-4 Director of American Bridge 21s Century Foundation/Senior Advisor to the PAC  Eddie Vale

(announced April 1, 2013)  Communications director for Workers' Voice, the AFL-CIO super PAC, and communications director for Protect Your Care.  AFL-CIO political communications director.  Progressive Media USA.  New Hampshire deputy press secretary on John Edwards for President.  In the 2006 cycle Vale served as assistant communications director on Ned Lamont for Senate in Connecticut, and earlier as deputy campaign manager on John Hall's primary campaign in New York's 19th CD, and as deputy communications director on Spitzer for Governor in New York.  Field director on Ginny Schrader's 2004 congressional cmapaign in Pennsylvania's 8th CD.  Degree in environmental law from the Law School at PACE University.  Seven years organizing for NYPIRG on environmental and consumer issues.  Undergraduate degree from UMASS Amherst.  Grew up in Long Island, NY.  twitter

Vice President/Senior Advisor to Correct the Record  Burns Strider

(announced Nov. 1, 2013)  President of American Values Network from Feb. 2009.  Founder and principal at The Eleison Group, LLC from July 2008.  National faith director on Hillary Clinton for President.  Senior advisor to House Minority Leader Rep. Nancy Pelosi, Feb. 2003-Dec. 2006; policy director of the House Democratic Caucus in 2006 under Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC).   Southern regional communications director at the DCCC, Nov. 2001-Jan. 2003.  Chief of staff to Congressman Ronnie Shows (MS-4).  Worked for Secretary of State Marshall Bennett in Jackson.  Interned with Al Gore.  Attended Mississippi State University, and received his degree in history at Delta State University, 1990.  From Grenada, MS, where his father was sheriff.  twitter


...COMMUNICATIONS

Communications Director  Ben Ray

(from Jan. 5, 2015)  Spokesman for Forward NC, aligned with Sen. Kay Hagan's 2014 re-election campaign in North Carolina.  Press secretary for the Indiana Democratic Party.  Graduate of Centre College, 2007.  Kentucky native.  twitter

Deputy Communications Director Kevin McAlister

(March 2015)  Senior communications advisor to the Michigan Democratic Party, May-Nov. 2014.   Press secretary to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, April 2012-May 2014.  Deputy press secretary and legislative assistant to U.S. Rep. John Olver (MA), Aug. 2010-April 2012.  B.A. in political science, economics from Bucknell University, 2010.  twitter

Press Secretary  Preston Maddock

twitter


Director of Online Engagement  Ryan Sims

(June 2014)  Digital account executive at Chapman Cubine Adams + Hussey, Nov. 2013-June 2014.  New media manager (March 2012-Nov. 2013) and new media assistant (July 2011-March 2012) at EMILY's List.  Masters in political management from GWU's Graduate School of Political Management, 2011.  Bachelor's degree in marketing, finance from University of Kentucky, 2008.



...RESEARCH
Research Director/Senior Advisor  Steven D'Amico

(from Nov. 2012; research team lead for presidential and vice presidential research from June 2011-Nov. 2012)  Research director on Strickland for Governor, April-Nov. 2010.  M.P.S. in political management from The George Wshington University, 2009; B.A. in political science from University of Rochester, 2005.




...TRACKING
Tracking Director/Senior Advisor  Kelli Farr

(Feb. 2013; national tracking director from April 2011)  Media analyst/tracker at Progressive Accountability.org, May-Nov. 2008.  Photographer/administrative assistant at Eventography Inc., Dec. 2006-April 2008.  Finance assistant on Phil Angelides for Governor (CA), Jan.-Nov. 2006.  B.A. in government from Cal State University Sacramento, 2007.

Department Manager, Tracking  Heather Reid

(March 2014)  External relations coordinator at The Atlas Project/Democratic GAIN (June  2013-March 2014); program assistant at The Atlas Project, May 2012-May 2013.  B.A. in political science from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2011.



...DUE DILIGENCE
Due Diligence Research Director  Abraham Payton

initially due diligence manager.


...OPERATIONS

Executive Assistant/Director of Operations  Michael Lewis

(April 2014)  Previously office manager at Media Matters for America, Jan. 2011-April 2014.