The Buttigieg presidential team has expanded dramatically to about 80 staffers by the end of May. | Scott Olson/Getty Images 2020 elections Buttigieg campaign, brimming with cash, staffs up

South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg’s campaign has come a long way from its humble roots.

Over the past few weeks, Buttigieg has brought on a host of new staffers to bolster his rapidly growing operation. The campaign recently snagged Hillary for America alum George Hornedo as national delegate director. And, with a swagger more often seen in Silicon Valley startups, it’s even hired something called a “chief innovation officer” — former Google senior engineer Ann Mei Chang — and a creative director, Obama White House alum Jillian Maryonovich.


The campaign has also bolstered its communications staff, led by hard-charging New York operative Lis Smith. It recently brought on Nina Smith (no relation) as its national traveling press secretary and added two deputy national press secretaries: Tess Whittlesey and Marisol Samayoa. Constance Boozer has been hired as surrogate communications director and Manuel Bonder has joined the campaign as media monitor.

Some of Buttigeig’s hires have turned heads in the insular world of Democratic operatives. For example, earlier this month, veteran Democratic ad makers Larry Grisolano and John Del Cecato of AKPD Message and Media signed on to consult for the campaign. Grisolano served as director of paid media and opinion research for Obama in 2008.

As of May 31, the Buttigieg presidential team has expanded dramatically from a shoestring operation with just a few employees. Now, the campaign numbers about 80 staffers — 55 percent of them women — after rocketing out of the first three months of the year with a $7 million fundraising haul. Reflecting its growth and maturation, the campaign this week held a retreat and rolled out a set of guiding principles for staff.

Buttigieg’s poll numbers have risen along with his payroll. A POLITICO/Morning Consult poll conducted from May 20 to May 26 found him tied for fourth place among the nearly two dozen Democratic candidates running for president at 7 percent, along with Sen. Kamala Harris. Ahead of those two, the poll found, are former Vice President Joe Biden, and Sens. Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren.