Pro-Clinton Super PACs

Priorities USA Action

Correct The Record

Ready for Hillary



Priorities USA Action

"Priorities USA Action was founded in 2012. Our mission is to communicate a progressive vision that increases economic security and upward mobility for middle class families. We will define a clear choice for the American public during the 2016 presidential election. We believe the stakes for protecting our country’s core values have never been higher as the far right pursues an agenda that rewards only the wealthiest few at the expense of middle class families."

...filed with the FEC on April 29, 2011.





Board of Directors



(announced Jan. 23, 2014)



Co-Chair and Chief Strategist Guy Cecil

Co-Chair Former Gov. Jennifer Granholm

Co-Chair Jim Messina

Charles A. Baker III

Allida Black

David Brock*

Maria Echaveste

Justin Gray

William P. Hite

Harold Ickes

Stephanie Schriock

Marva Smalls

Joe Solomonese

Greg Speed

Randi Weingarten





Chief Strategist Guy Cecil



(May 2015) Executive director of the DSCC in the 2012 and 2014 cycles. Chief of staff to Sen. Michael Bennet (CO) starting Oct, 19, 2009. President of Thomas Circle Strategies, a public affairs and issue advocacy firm. National political and field director on Hillary Clinton for President campaign. Political director at the DSCC in the 2006 cycle. Joined the Dewey Square Group in March 2003 and was a principal in the firm's grassroots campaign practice. Directed the Arkansas Democratic Coordinated Campaign in the 2002 cycle. National field director for the Children's Defense Fund and its Campaign to Leave No Child Behind, 2001. Field director for the 2000 Missouri Democratic Coordinated Campaign. Worked on Vice President Gore's campaign staff in New Hampshire and was the state director for the primary campaign in Vermont. Program coordinator for Boston Partners in Education, a nonprofit. A high school teacher and speech and debate coach. Graduate of the University of Florida with a B.A. in political science. Originally from Miami. twitter





Executive Director Anne Caprara



(from May 2015) Vice president of campaigns at EMILY's List, Feb.-May 2015. Political director (Jan. 2013-Dec. 2014) and deputy political director (May 2011-Jan. 2013) at the DSCC. Chief of staff to U.S. Rep. Betsy Markey, Jan. 2009-Jan. 2011, after managing her campaign. Transition director and chief of staff to Congresswoman Betty Sutton, Nov. 2006-May 2007. Research tracker, then deputy research director at EMILY's List, 2003-06. Business development assistant at Cassidy & Associates, 2001-03. M.A. in political management from The George Washington University, 2003; B.A. from American University, 2001. twitter





Deputy Executive Director for Finance Kim Kauffman



(reported by Politico on June 23, 2015) Founder (Dec. 2002) and President of The Kauffman Group.





Deputy Executive Director for Research Patrick McHugh



(reported by Politico on June 23, 2015; promoted from research director)





Digital Director Tara McGowan



(from July 2015; reported by Politico on June 23, 2015) Associate director at Purpose, March 2014-June 2015. Digital director at NextGen Action, June 2013-Feb. 2014. Digital producer at Obama for America, Oct. 2011-Nov. 2012. Press secretary to Sen. Jack Reed (RI), June 2010-Oct. 2011. Broadcast associate at CBS News' 60 Minutes, Oct. 2009-June 2010. Research and production at IFC Media Project in NY, Jan.-Sept. 2009. Production associate for "Digital Nation" (Frontline, PBS, Ark Media Inc.), June 2008-Jan. 2009. Intern at CBS News' 60 Minutes and for the CBS News production unit. twitter





Media

Shorr Johnson Magnus

Ralston Lapp



(reported by Politico on June 23, 2015)



Senior Advisor/Principal Paul Begala

twitter





Note

Priorities USA underwent a shakeup in May 2015. Tensions became evident on Feb. 9, 2015 when David Brock resigned from the Board citing a "specious and malicious attack." In May former DSCC executive director Guy Cecil, who was political director of Clinton's 2008 campaign, was brought on as a co-chair of Priorities USA, reducing Jim Messina's role. Subsequently, Buffy Wicks was replaced by Anne Caprara as executive director and Brock returned to the Board



See:

Kenneth P. Vogel. "David Brock resigns from Hillary Clinton PAC." Politico. Feb. 9, 2015.

Matea Gold. "Guy Cecil in talks to join pro-Clinton super PAC, reducing Jim Messina’s role." The Washington Post. May 1, 2015.

Maggie Haberman. "'Super PAC' Backing Hillary Clinton Sees Staff Overhaul." The New York Times. May 20, 2015.





former

Executive Director Buffy Wicks



(announced Jan. 10, 2014 to May 2015) Senior fellow at the Center for American Progress' women's initiative, announced April 30, 2013. National director of Operation Vote for the Obama for America campaign. Vice president for political affairs at AKPD Media. Deputy director of the White House Office of Public Engagement. Wicks worked on Obama's 2007-08 campaign starting as the campaign's Western region field director in Chicago, then as field director in California, deputy field director in Texas, director of the campaign's national volunteer program ("Obama Organizing Fellows"), and in the fall state director for Missouri. Political director for Wake Up Wal-Mart. Organizer in the 'Anti-War in Iraq' campaign in San Francisco, CA. Co-founded Hoi-Polloi, "a people’s organization created by a small group of conscientious thinkers striving for world peace." Campaign manager on Jay Fetcher's 2004 state Senate campaign in Colorado. Des Moines organizer on Howard Dean's Iowa caucus campaign. Graduate of the University of Washington, 1998. twitter



Finance Director Justin Brennan

(Jan.-May 2015)



Finance Director Diana Rogalle



(announced Jan. 23, 2014) Founder and principal at The Ashmead Group; Rogalle has been a Democratic political fundraiser and operative for close to twenty years. Led the fundraising efforts for Victory Campaign 2004 – the joint fundraising committee of America Coming Together and The Media Fund. National finance director for the Wes Clark for President campaign. Finance director of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (started in May 2001 after serving as DSCC director of campaign services. B.A. in political science and communications from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, 1990.



Senior Advisor for Finance Jonathan Mantz



(announced Jan. 10, 2014) Principal of BGR Government Affairs. National finance director on Hillary Clinton for President, 2007-08. Finance chair for Gov. Jon Corzine, 2006. Principal at PodestaMattoon, 2003-05. Deputy executive director and finance director for the DSCC, started in early 2004. Finance director for the DCCC in the 2002 and 2000 election cycles. Finance director for the National Jewish Democratic Council. B.A. in history from Ithaca College, 1991. Philadelphia native.



Correct The Record

"A strategic research and rapid response team designed to defend Hillary Clinton from right-wing, baseless attacks." Now a separate super PAC, Correct the Record was initially part of American Bridge 21st Century from its formation (+) in Nov. 2013 through May 2015.

See: Maggie Haberman. "Hillary Clinton-Aligned Group Gets Closer to Her Campaign" The New York Times, May 12, 2015.







twitter



Board of Directors



(announced May 12, 2015)

Chair Kathleen Kennedy Townsend



Previously chair of American Bridge 21st Century. Served as Lt. Gov. of Maryland from 1995 -2003, and ran unsuccessfully for Governor in 2002. A Deputy Assistant Attorney General during the Clinton Adminstration.

James Carville, veteran political strategist

Freddy Balsera, national co-chair of the DNC’s Hispanic Leadership Council

Gonzalo Barrientos, Jr., a former Democratic member of the Texas State Senate

Sandy Robertson, founder of Francisco Partners and a leading technology investor

Susie Tompkins Buell, co-founder of Esprit and a leading political donor

Scott Miller, a Denver-based philanthropist, LGBT-rights advocate and board member of the Gill Foundation

David Brock, Correct the Record’s founder twitter





President Brad Woodhouse



(announced May 12, 2015; previously president of American Bridge 21st Century from Feb. 3, 2014) President of Americans United for Change from July 2013, his second stint, and will continue in that role. Communications director at the DNC from Feb. 2009; senior communication adviser for the DNC from June-Nov. 2008. President at Americans United for Change since Feb. 2007; took leave for DNC. Consultant for Hildebrand Tewes Consulting, Oct. 2005-Feb. 2007. Communications Director for Americans United to Protect Social Security, Feb. 2005-Oct. 2005. Several months as press secretary to Sen. Jon Corzine (NJ). Communications director for the DSCC, March 2003-Nov. 2004. Press secretary on Erskine Bowles' 2002 U.S. Senate campaign. A policy aide and then press secretary to Rep. Bob Etheridge (NC). B.A. in political science from University of South Carolina, 1991. From Raleigh, NC. twitter



Senior Advisor and Surrogate Former Gov. Jennifer Granholm



(Aug. 14, 2015 tweet)





Executive Director Isaac Wright



(announced Nov. 1, 2013) Founder of Wright Strategies LLC. Worked on Gov. Beebe's 2010 re-election and on Jay Nixon's 2008 campaign for governor (MO). South Carolina communications director for Hillary Clinton campaign’s in 2008. Ccommunications director in the office of Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe, and earlier a spokesman on Beebe's 2006 gubernatorial campaign. Communications director for U.S. Rep. Harold Ford (D-TN) through July 2005. Press secretary for the Tennessee Democratic Party. Wright began working in campaign online activities and media when he served on the national communications staff of the Gore-Lieberman 2000 campaign. twitter



Communications Director Adrienne Watson



(announced May 13, 2015; previously deputy communicatons director and director of surrogates) Press secretary to Sen. Joe Donnelly. Press secretary to Rep. Loretta Sanchez. Press assistant to Rep. Baron Hill. B.A. in history from Indiana University. Originally from Carmel, Indiana. twitter





Digital Director Benjamin Fischbein

(Dec. 2013) Vice president of digital (Feb. 2013-Jan. 2014) and product and marketing manager (Jan. 2012-Feb. 2013) at BlastRoots, Inc.. Director at Sparkpoint Strategies, July 2010-Jan. 2012. Director at Integrity Interactive Marketing and Branding, Jan. 2010-Jan. 2012. Owner at Fisch Media, Oct. 2005-April 2010. Research consultant at Koppen Group, June 2007-Jan. 2009. Junior associate at Citigroup Smith Barney, June-Dec. 2006. B.A. in history from American University, 2007. twitter





Research Director Sam Ritzman

(announced Nov. 1, 2013) Directed the research effort for the successful re-election campaign of Democratic Senator Bill Nelson of Florida in 2012. In 2008, he was a senior researcher on the Clinton campaign and later worked at the polling firm of Penn and Schoen.





former

Senior Advisor Burns Strider



(announced by American Bridge on 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









Ready for Hillary

Super PAC formed Jan. 25, 2013, officially launched April 2, 2013, and operated throught to Clinton's announcement in April 2015.





