Phil Bredesen names campaign team for U.S. Senate run

Tennessee U.S. Senate candidate Phil Bredesen will lean on some of his closest advisers from his time as governor and a new crop of Democratic aides as he launches his first campaign in more than a decade.

He's also brought on the same political advertising and polling firms that he used during his past gubernatorial runs.

Bredesen, who entered the race last month, named his campaign team on Thursday, appointing businesswoman Gina Lodge, former commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Human Services, campaign treasurer.

Dick Lodge, a longtime advisor, lobbyist and attorney at Nashville's Bass, Berry & Sims, will serve as campaign finance chair to oversee fundraising efforts.

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As the USA TODAY NETWORK-Tennessee reported last month, Bredesen has hired Bob Corney as campaign manager. Corney, former communications director in the governor's office, most recently worked as senior vice president at Calvert Street Group, a lobbying and advocacy firm based in Nashville.

Longtime Bredesen aide Will Pinkston — a Metro school board member who worked in the governor's office and on Bredesen's two runs for governor — has the title of senior strategist for the campaign. In this role, Pinkston, re-elected to his school board post in 2014, will advise the campaign on general strategy.

Bredesen has also turned to other past confidants to serve as campaign advisors: businessman Stuart Brunson and public-affairs consultant and lobbyist Dave Cooley, who each held stints as deputy governor under Bredesen; Nashville attorney Byron Trauger; and government-relations professional Anna Durham Windrow of the lobbying firm Windrow and Phillips Group.

“I’m pleased to be joined by a talented team of longtime advisors and seasoned professionals who are eager to ensure that Tennessee values are represented in the U.S. Senate,” Bredesen said in a statement.

“Each brings unique skills, insights, and experience from all corners of the state to help me advance a positive campaign. I’m confident that, together, we can make a strong case to Tennesseans who want the Senate to get back to basics and who want to bring common sense to Washington.”

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Fred Yang, partner of the Washington D.C.-based Democratic polling firm Garin-Hart-Yang Research Group, will handle polling and public opinion research for Bredesen. Yang is also working for former Nashville Mayor Karl Dean's campaign for Tennessee governor.

Steve Murphy, managing partner of MVAR Media and a veteran of the media side of Democratic campaigns, will lead the campaign’s television, radio, print, and digital advertising.

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Alfred Degrafinreid, a native of Memphis, and former aide for U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper who most recently worked for Davidson County Criminal Court Clerk Howard Gentry, will serve as deputy campaign manager. Degrafinreid, who will oversee the campaign's statewide outreach efforts, recently left the clerk's office.

Gentry, who is up for reelection in May, said he's saddened to lose "such a vital member of the Criminal Court Clerk family," but said he's excited about the opportunity for Degrafinreid, whose work he applauded.

Bredesen, governor of Tennessee from 2003 to 2011, is the only declared Democrat running in the August primary. U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tennessee, and Rep. Stephen Fincher, R-Tennessee, are among the leading contenders seeking the Republican nomination.

Other staff members of the campaign team are:

Andrew Adamski , field director — Adamski, who held the same title for Nashville Mayor Megan Barry’s 2015 campaign and multiple congressional campaigns, will oversee the statewide get-out-the-vote program.

, field director — Adamski, who held the same title for Nashville Mayor Megan Barry’s 2015 campaign and multiple congressional campaigns, will oversee the statewide get-out-the-vote program. Brian Cordova , Tennessee finance director — Cordova, former finance director for Barry's campaign and veteran of congressional campaigns, will lead the campaign's fundraising program. He most recently worked for former U.S. Senate candidate James Mackler’s finance efforts. Mackler dropped out of the Democratic Primary race after Bredesen entered.

, Tennessee finance director — Cordova, former finance director for Barry's campaign and veteran of congressional campaigns, will lead the campaign's fundraising program. He most recently worked for former U.S. Senate candidate James Mackler’s finance efforts. Mackler dropped out of the Democratic Primary race after Bredesen entered. Andrew Daly , special assistant — Daly, a Tennessee Democratic operative, will work on the campaign’s advance, communications, field, and fundraising operations.

, special assistant — Daly, a Tennessee Democratic operative, will work on the campaign’s advance, communications, field, and fundraising operations. Nadira Freeman , operations director — Freeman, a PR professional, community organizer and veteran of local, state and national education and healthcare issue campaigns, will manage the campaign’s day-to-day operations.

, operations director — Freeman, a PR professional, community organizer and veteran of local, state and national education and healthcare issue campaigns, will manage the campaign’s day-to-day operations. Dylan Hall , special assistant — Hall, a congressional aide with campaign experience, will support the campaign’s advance, communications, field, and fundraising operations.

, special assistant — Hall, a congressional aide with campaign experience, will support the campaign’s advance, communications, field, and fundraising operations. Alyssa Hansen , press secretary — Hansen, who will take a leave from her role as communications director of the Tennessee AFL-CIO Labor Council, will lead the campaign’s media relations. Hansen is a former reporter in Owensboro, Ky. and the Columbus, Ohio area.

, press secretary — Hansen, who will take a leave from her role as communications director of the Tennessee AFL-CIO Labor Council, will lead the campaign’s media relations. Hansen is a former reporter in Owensboro, Ky. and the Columbus, Ohio area. Sarah Lingo , advance and scheduling director — Lingo, a veteran of campaigns in Tennessee and Nashville, and past aide in state government, will coordinate Bredesen's scheduling.

, advance and scheduling director — Lingo, a veteran of campaigns in Tennessee and Nashville, and past aide in state government, will coordinate Bredesen's scheduling. April Orange , finance director. Orange — a Democratic fundraising strategies from Nashville who helped lead fundraising efforts during Bredesen’s gubernatorial campaigns, will lead the campaign’s fundraising.

, finance director. Orange — a Democratic fundraising strategies from Nashville who helped lead fundraising efforts during Bredesen’s gubernatorial campaigns, will lead the campaign’s fundraising. Polly Pfeiffer, national finance director — Pfeiffer will support the campaign's fundraising by " expanding its reach to new donors," the campaign says. Pfeiffer, who has national fundraising ties in Democratic poltiics, most recently worked for Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam's 2016 campaign.

national finance director — Pfeiffer will support the campaign's fundraising by " expanding its reach to new donors," the campaign says. Pfeiffer, who has national fundraising ties in Democratic poltiics, most recently worked for Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam's 2016 campaign. Laura Zapata, communications director —Zapata, a Memphis native who most recently worked on global communications for the ride-sharing company Uber, will oversee the campaign’s internal and external communications. Zapata has past stints as press secretary for Hillary Clinton's Ohio campaign, communications director for U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, and former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

Reach Joey Garrison at 615-259-8236, jgarrison@tennessean.com and on Twitter @Joeygarrison.