John Kasich's campaign has had somewhat of an unusual press operation. | AP Photo Kasich campaign adds communications director

Ohio Gov. John Kasich's presidential campaign has named Mike Schrimpf as its communications director.

Schrimpf, a veteran Republican operative, is an alum of Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner's team, where he served as the chief communicator for the GOP governor. He has also served in top communications roles at the Republican Governors Association.


Rauner remains officially neutral in the presidential primary. But so-called establishment Illinois Republicans have banded together behind Kasich, including the former Illinois GOP chair and key state lawmakers. Rauner's former campaign manager Chip Englander, however, moved to Sen. Marco Rubio's campaign following Sen. Rand Paul's failed presidential bid.

"Mike Schrimpf remains a trusted adviser to Governor Rauner and will continue to advise the Illinois Republican Party throughout the year," said Rauner spokeswoman Catherine Kelly in a statement. "With Schrimpf's departure, Lance Trover will serve as Deputy Chief of Staff for Communications while Richard Goldberg will serve as Deputy Chief of Staff for Legislative Affairs and Strategic Initiatives."

Schrimpf is the twin brother of Chris Schrimpf, a longtime press aide for the Ohio governor who's been the main traveling press aide with the governor's presidential campaign. He has the title of senior communications adviser.

"Mike has worked well with our organization for many years at RGA and will be a good fit with the team as Governor Kasich’s growing support creates new opportunities for us to talk about his positive, unifying vision for America," Kasich campaign manager Beth Hansen said in a statement. "He is an excellent communication thinker and leader who knows how to work effectively in senior positions with large teams and we’re fortunate to have him join the campaign."

Kasich's campaign up until now has had a slightly unusual press operation. There has been no singular designated communications director or press secretary, and instead Rob Nichols, Schrimpf, and Scott Milburn have divided the job into politics, traveling with Kasich, and policy, respectively.