Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee – 2016

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Chairman Sen. Jon Tester (MT)

(elected Nov. 13, 2014; started Dec. 8) Elected to the Senate in 2006 and re-elected in 2012. Served in the Montana state Senate 1999-2006, including as minority whip 2001-03, minority leader 2003-05, and president 2005-06. Member of the Big Sandy school board 1983-92, including chairman 1986-91. Took over the Tester farm in 1978, and also taught music at F.E. Miley Elementary School. Degree in music from the College of Great Falls, 1978.

EXECUTIVE

Executive Director Tom Lopach

(first reported by Politico on Nov. 14, 2014; announced Nov. 21) Chief of staff to Sen. Tester since Feb. 2010. Senior vice president (congressional and intergovernmental affairs at the Export-Import Bank of the United States, May 2009-Jan. 2010. National finance director at the DSCC, Jan. 2007-Jan. 2009. National finance director at Kennedy for Senate, Jan. 1999-Jan. 2007. Executive director of the Committee for a Democratic Majority, Jan. 1999-Jan. 2007. B.A. in political science and government from Gonzaga University, 1996. Helena native.

Assistant to the Executive Director Andrew Wilkins

(June 2015...started as a staff assistant, March-May 2015) Staff assistant to U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan in her Charlotte regional office, Aug. 2013-Jan. 2015. Communicty news writer and reporter for DavidsonNews.net, 2013. Campaign manager on Wilkins for Congress, Jan.-Dec. 2012. Bachelor's degree in political science from Davidson College, 2011.

Deputy Executive Director Preston Elliott

(announced Nov. 21, 2014) Campaign manager on Sen. Kay Hagan's 2013-14 re-election campaign. Campaign manager on Sen. Jon Tester's 2012 re-election campaign. Nevada Coordinated Campaign director in 2010, helping to re-elected Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. Deputy political director at the DSCC in 2008.

POLITICAL

Political Director Christie Roberts

(May 2016) Moved over from serving as DSCC research director, started in March 2014, and previously deputy research director, Jan. 2013-March 2014. Research director on Sen. Jon Tester's re-election campaign, Jan. 2011-Nov. 2012. Research associate at the DSCC, 2010. B.A. in English and government from Georgetown University, 2006.

Deputy Political Director Ellen Zeng

(April 2015) Campaign manager on Clay Aiken for North Carolina, June-Nov. 2014. Campaign manager on Mark Takai for Congress, Feb.-May 2014. Counsel to the U.S. Senate Rules and Administration Committee, Dec. 2012-Feb. 2014. Boiler room coordinator on McAuliffe for Governor, July-Nov. 2013. Counsel to the U.S. House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, Aug. 2011-Dec. 2012. Asian American Vote coordinator and deputy voter protection coordinator for Organizing for America-Pennsylvania, Sept.-Nov. 2012. Clerk for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit, Aug. 2010-Aug. 2011. Systems engineer at Boeing, Jan.. 2006-June 2007. J.D. from Harvard Law School, 2010. B.S. in electrical engineering and computer science from UC Berkeley, 2005.

Deputy Political Director Christopher Carr

(March 2015) Finance director on Alison for Kentucky U.S. Senate race, June-Nov. 2014. Finance director on Pennsylvania for Allyson, Oct. 2013-May 2014. West finance director (Jan.-Oct. 2013) and Midwest finance director (May 2011-Dec. 2012) for the DCCC. Finane director for the Maryland Democratic Party and the 2010 Coordinated Campaign, March 2010-May 2011. Finance director on Cheryle Jackson for U.S. Senate (IL) Aug. 2009-Feb. 2010. Finance director on Bill Foster for Congress, April-Aug. 2009. Finance director on Friends of Sara Feigenholtz, Dec. 2008-March 2009. Finance director on Bennett 2008, April-Nov. 2008. Finance director on Beth Hafer for Congress, Oct. 2007-April 2008. Undergraduate degree from University of Pittsburgh, 2007.

Deputy Political Director Andrew Piatt

Previously Southern regional political director at the DCCC, announced Feb. 2013 and into 2016; worked for the DCCC's IE in 2012. Experience also includes campaign manager on U.S. Rep. Mark Schauer's (MI) unsuccessful 2010 re-election bid.

[Simone Ward served as political director, announced as Hillary for America Florida state director in late April 2016]

PRESS

Communications Director Sadie Weiner

(from Oct. 8, 2015...previously national press secretary at the DSCC) Communications director to U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan from Nov. 2012. Press secretary on Sherrod Brown for Senate, April-Nov. 2012. Deputy communications director to U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan, Dec. 2010-April 2012. Communications director for the Washington State Democratic Party, July-Nov. 2010. Press secretary and new media manager (Sept. 2009-July 2010) and deputy press secretary (Jan.-Sept. 2009) to U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan. Communications assistant on Kay Hagan for U.S. Senate, May-Nov. 2008. B.A. in government from The University of Texas at Austin, 2009. twitter

National Press Secretary Lauren Passalacqua

Deputy press secretary in the New York City Mayor's Office. Deputy press secretary in the Office of the Attorney General of the State of New York, Jan.-Dec. 2011. Communications office of Andrew Cuomo 2010, Sept.-Nov. 2010. Press secretary on Dinallo for Attorney General, April-Sept. 2010. Deputy press secretary In the Office of the Governor of New York, May 2008-April 2010. B.A. in journalism, sociology from New York University, 2008. twitter

Deputy National Press Secretary Lara Sisselman

(July 2015; also press intern at the DSCC in summer 2014) Bachelor's degree in political science, communications from Tulane University, 2015. twitter

Director of Rapid Response Samuel Lau

(May 2016) Communications director at the Iowa Democratic Party, April 2015-April 2016. Press secretary on Braley for Iowa, June-Nov. 2014. Press secretary at the Iowa Democratic Party, Feb.-June 2014. Communications director to U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan, Feb. 2013-Jan. 2014. New Hampshire deputy press secretary on Obama for America, Sept.-Nov. 2012. Deputy press secretary for the Democratic National Convention Committee, March-Sept. 2012. Deputy press secretary/speechwriter for U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan (NC), June 2009-Feb. 2012. B.A. in journalism and political science from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2009. twitter

RESEARCH

Research Director Devan Barber

(May 2016) Previously DSCC deputy research director, Feb. 2015-May 2016. Research director on Kay Hagan for U.S. Senate (NC), Dec. 2012-Nov. 2014. Researcher for Sen. Kay Hagan, Dec. 2012-Dec. 2013. Senior research associate (July 2011-Nov. 2012) and research associate (March 2010-June 2011) at the DNC. Legislative correspondence manager (Feb.-March 201), legislative correspondent (Jan.-Feb. 201) and research assistant (May-Nov. 2008) for Sen. Kay Hagan. B.A. in government and women's studies from William & Mary, 2008.

POLICY

Policy Director Laura Hatalsky

Previously at the Senate Democratic Policy and Communications Center, 2013-15. twitter

Digital & Direct Marketing

Digital Director Matthew Kehres

(June 2013; deputy digital director, March 2009-June 2013) Previously web manager at the DCCC, July 2008-May 2009. Internet production associate at Hillary Clinton for President, Feb.-June 2008. Web developer at Michigan State University, March 2005-Aug. 2007. Web/media coordinator on Marcinkowski for Congress, June-Nov. 2006. B.A. in international relations from Michigan State University, 2006. twitter

Deputy Digital Director Matt Ingoglia

(May 2015) Digital marketing manager for the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund and Institute, July 2013-April 2015. Account executive at Bully Pulpit Interactive, June 2011-June 2013. B.A. in political communication from The George Washington University, 2011. twitter

Director of Marketing Catherine Algeri

(April 2015) Digital director on Michelle Nunn for U.S. Senate. Digital director to U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, Dec. 2012-Feb. 2014. Digital director on Whitehouse for Senate, Aug.-Nov. 2012. Online and new media director on Blumenthal for Senate, July-Nov. 2010. Senior account executive at InfoGroup Nonprofit, July 2006-July 2010. Account coordinator at Luatman & Company, Oct. 2003-July 2006. B.A. degree from UC San Diego.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Chief Technology Officer Jude Meche

(IT director at the DSCC in March 2005) Meche also served as technology site lead at Invesco Field for the Democratic National Convention in Aug.-Sept. 2008. Senior IT advisor for John Kerry for President and the Kerry-Edwards campaign, starting May 2004. Director of IT for America Coming Together, Feb.-May 2004. Director of IT on the Dick Gephardt for President campaign Feb. 2003-Feb. 2004. Director of management information systems at the DCCC, Sept. 2001-Feb. 2003. Consultant, 1992-2001. Degree in mechanical engineering from Tulane University, 1997.

FINANCE

Finance Director Valerie Chraca Friedman

(announced Nov. 21, 2014) Chracha Friedman has run her oven consulting firm, the Chraca Friedman Group, for the past three years. National finance director on Sen. Tester's 2012 re-election campaign, and also a consultant for President Obama's re-election campaign. Deputy national finance director at the DSCC, focusing on the South and Midwest, 2008-10. Has worked for Bill Richardson’s presidential campaign, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and Joe Leiberman’s presidential campaign.

Deputy National Finance Director Yates Baroody

(Jan. 2015) COO at New Blue Interactive, April-Dec. 2014. Finance chief of staff at the DSCC, March 2011-April 2014. Finance operations director at the DCCC, Jan. 2009-March 2011. Accoundt coordinator at Hayes and Associates, Jan. 2006=Aug. 2008. M.A. in legislative affairs from The George Washington University, 2006; B.A. in political sicence from University of South Carolina-Columbia, 2004.

COMPLIANCE

Comptroller Deanna Watts Nesburg

(April 2011; deputy comptroller from Sept. 2007) Staff accountant/senior staff accountant at the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, 2006-07. Bachelor's degree in finance from the University of Virginia, 2003.

Deputy Comptroller Megan Mielnik

(April 2011; assistant comptroller from Jan. 2007) B.A. in political science from University of Iowa, 2006.

Administration

LEGAL

Counsel Marc Elias

Chair of the Perkins Coie Political Law practice.

Independent Expenditures

[IE, operating separately and independently from the DCCC, spends tens of millions of dollars largely on advertising, doled out to various consultants]

Director of Independent Expenditures Mindy Myers

(announced Dec. 3, 2015, start Jan. 2016] Also seriving as advisor/consultant to Elzabeth Warren's PAC for a Level Playing Field from Jan. 2016. Chief of staff to Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Nov. 2012-Dec. 2015. Campaign manager on Elizabeth Warren for Senate, Sept. 2011-Nov. 2012. Chief of staff to Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, Nov. 2008-Sept. 2011. Campaign manager on Richard Blumenthal for Senate (Ct), April-Nov. 2010. New Hampshire state director on Obama for America, July-Nov. 2008. Chief of staff to Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (RI), Nov. 2006-July 2008. Campaign manager on Sheldon Whitehouse for Senate, 2005-06. Political director to Senate Democratic Leader Tom Daschle/DASHPAC, 2003-April 2005. Dpeuty director for constituency outreach on Gore 2000, 1999-2000.