"Kevin McLaughlin has a winning record at the NRSC and I can think of no one better suited to protect our Majority in the 2020 cycle," Sen. Todd Young (pictured) said. | Michael Conroy/AP Photo Elections NRSC veteran McLaughlin named executive director for 2020 election Republican Senate committee also ads experienced finance team for 2020 cycle.

New National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman Todd Young (R-Ind.) has hired veteran strategist Kevin McLaughlin to serve as the committee's executive director for the 2020 campaign cycle.

McLaughlin will guide Republicans as they seek to protect a 53-47 majority while defending 22 seats in 2020, compared to just 12 Democratic-held seats up that year. McLaughlin served at the NRSC during the 2014 and 2016 elections, helping Republicans win and then keep the majority.


"Kevin McLaughlin has a winning record at the NRSC and I can think of no one better suited to protect our Majority in the 2020 cycle," Young said in a statement provided first to POLITICO. "As a senior adviser for the NRSC in the 2014 cycle, Kevin spearheaded strategies that won Republicans the Senate Majority; in 2016, he played a leadership role on the team that successfully defended it."

Before joining the NRSC for his first tour, McLaughlin worked for Sens. John Cornyn and John McCain and at the Republican National Committee.

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“After previously serving the NRSC in 2014 and 2016 — when Senate Republicans regained and retained the majority — it is a privilege to return for the 2020 cycle as Executive Director,” McLaughlin said in a statement. “Priority number one will be building a team that will work as tirelessly as Chairman-elect Todd Young, as well as his colleagues in the Senate Republican Conference.”

Several veteran Republican Senate strategists praised McLaughlin's hiring. Ward Baker, who led the NRSC in 2016 and worked closely with McLaughlin, said there was "nobody better" to lead the committee.

"Nobody has worked harder to gain and retain the Senate Republican Majority than Kevin McLaughlin," said Josh Holmes, a top adviser to Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. "He's one of the sharpest operatives in the party and a perfect fit for the machine Sen. Young is building for 2020."

In addition to McLaughlin, Young also announced a new NRSC finance team that will be led by Anna Rogers Duncan and Brittney Godoy.

Duncan was national finance director for Sen. Marco Rubio's (R-Fla.) 2016 presidential campaign and later his Senate reelection campaign, and she also served as finance director for American Crossroads and Crossroads GPS. Godoy was also previously finance director for American Crossroads and Crossroads GPS, as well as for Senate Leadership Fund and One Nation — the super PAC and political nonprofit linked to McConnell. Godoy was the deputy finance director for the NRSC in the 2014 election cycle.

"I know that with their experience and knowledge, our fundraising operation will be leaps and bounds ahead of Democrats in a cycle where raising money will be more competitive than ever," Young said. "The Republican Senate Majority is in good hands with Kevin at the helm, and with Anna and Brittney funding the mission."