NRCC Announces Political Team for 2014 Cycle
Group of Seasoned Operatives to Oversee Committee’s Political Division
WASHINGTON – National Republican Congressional Committee’s Political Director Rob Simms announced the Committee’s political team for the 2014 cycle today.
“Our team of experienced and well-versed political operatives are working hard to ensure House Republicans are positioned to grow our majority,” said Simms. “Each member has unique experience working within the political realm, which will prove to be an invaluable tool as we head into the 2014 election cycle.”
Jon Reedy, Northeast Regional Political Director: Jon returns to the Committee this cycle as the Northeast Regional Political Director after spending the 2012 election cycle as the Western Regional Political Director. In this role, he will work with incumbent and challenger campaigns in New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Vermont and Rhode Island. He began his career working on campaigns and in the state legislature while in college at California State University, Stanislaus, and has gone on to work on state and federal campaigns in four states. From 2005-2009, Reedy served in the Bush Administration, including nearly two years on staff at the White House.
Joe Pileggi, Great Lakes and Florida Regional Political Director: Joe comes to the NRCC from Axiom Strategies, where he served as an Associate for the firm and was the Campaign Manager for a successful statewide race in Missouri. Prior to that, he was the Campaign Director for former Congressman Mark Neumann’s U.S. Senate run in Wisconsin. Additionally, Joe has been the Deputy Campaign Manager on a Governor’s race and has previously worked with the NRSC. He got his start running legislative races, and in 2006, he successfully managed the most targeted State Senate campaign in Florida.
David Watts, Central Midwest Regional Political Director: Watts has been a Republican operative for the last 15 years and has worked on local, state and national campaigns in Texas, Missouri and Illinois. He has also worked for former President George W. Bush, Texas Sens. John Cornyn and Kay Bailey Hutchison, as well as Illinois Reps. Bobby Schilling and Peter Roskam. David served as Midwest RPD for the NRCC in the 2012 cycle.
Annie Kelly, Top Offensive Target States: Annie most recently managed Congressman Tom Latham’s successful campaign in IA-03, one of only two member vs. member races in the country. She is also a veteran of Governor Tim Pawlenty’s political organization, working as Deputy State Director for his Iowa campaign, Operations Director for his PAC, and Deputy Campaign Manager for his 2006 reelection. Her extensive campaign experience also includes working as a Senior Associate at BlueFront Strategies. Annie will be handling GA, NC, WV, MN, AZ, & UT. Specifically, she will be focused on the seven top offensive targets for the NRCC.
Robert Jones, Western Regional Political Director: Robert is returning to the NRCC for the 2014 cycle as the West Regional Political Director after serving the Committee as Deputy Director of the Patriot Program in 2012. A native Portlander, Robert came up in West Coast politics working on the re-election campaign of Senator Gordon Smith in 2008 as a research and finance assistant. In 2010, Robert served as Deputy Campaign Manager and Political Director for Chris Dudley’s gubernatorial run in Oregon.
George Nassar, Southeast Regional Political Director: After a successful 2012 cycle, George will be returning to the NRCC to serve once again as the Southeast Regional Political Director. George got his start at the NRCC serving as Regional Field Director for the Southeast during the historic Republican takeover of the House in 2010. He later went on to consult campaigns in Mississippi and Virginia before returning back to the NRCC.