Priebus Names Kivett As Regional Political Director
RNC Chairman Reince Priebus Announces Regional Political Directors
WASHINGTON – Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Reince Priebus released the following statement announcing the RNC’s Regional Political Directors for the 2014 midterm election cycle:
“I am excited to announce new additions to our RNC Political team, a group of talented individuals who will serve as the Regional Political Directors for the 2014 midterm election cycle,” said RNC Chairman Reince Priebus. “Serving under RNC Political Director Chris McNulty, the six Regional Political Directors will be responsible for coordinating the ground game operation and voter contacts across the country. Our new field operation is focused on building the party from the bottom up and engaging in communities where we haven’t been. This will be the RPD’s focus as they work to ensure Republicans are elected up and down the ticket in 2014 as we strengthen the Republican Party in all states and territories.
“We have a lot of work to do to build out our new ground game and welcome new voters following the 2012 election cycle. I am confident that these Regional Political Directors will be able to help Republicans win new seats in the House, win back the Senate and elect Republican legislatures and governors in all 50 states and territories.”
Tiffany Watkins
Maine/Vermont/New Hampshire/Massachusetts/Connecticut/New York/New Jersey/Delaware/Maryland/Rhode Island/Puerto Rico/Virgin Islands/N. Mariana Islands/Guam/American Samoa/District of Columbia
Tiffany Watkins was the Director of Government Affairs for the Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration. Prior to that, she served as Chief Financial Officer for Marco Rubio for U.S. Senate. She has previously held positions with Orr Associates, the U.S. Department of Education, Jim Talent for U.S. Senate, the Bush-Cheney Re-Election Campaign, the White House Office of Public Liaison, the RNC, and Merrill Lynch.
Matt Mason
Pennsylvania/Virginia/West Virginia/Ohio/Kentucky/Tennessee/Indiana/Michigan
Matt Mason served as an RNC Regional Political Director during the 2012 election cycle. His previous roles include Victory Coordinator for the Ohio Republican Party, State Victory Director for Ohio in three consecutive cycles, Regional Political Director for the Rudy Giuliani Presidential Committee, RNC State Victory Director in Virginia, and Michigan Executive Political Director in 2010. He is also a combat veteran with the United States Marine Corps, having served with Lima Company 3rd Battalion, 25th Marines in Iraq in 2005.
Josh Kivett
North Carolina/South Carolina/Georgia/Florida/Alabama/Mississippi/Louisiana/Arkansas/Oklahoma
Josh Kivett has nearly 15 years of experience in political and communications management, including a long history in Oklahoma and Georgia electoral politics. As a partner at Connect Strategic Communications and the Jamison Group, Inc., his clients have included legislative, congressional, senate, and presidential campaigns. He previously served as the Campaign Manager for U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe and as the Executive Director of the Oklahoma Republican State House Committee.
Mark Jefferson
Wisconsin/Illinois/Missouri/Iowa/Minnesota/Kansas/Nebraska/South Dakota/North Dakota
Mark Jefferson has served the RNC as Midwestern RPD since May 2011. Before joining the RNC, Mark worked for over four years as Executive Director of the Republican Party of Wisconsin. A native of central Wisconsin, he has run several House races and was the statewide director for the state Republican Assembly Campaign Committee. He has also served as a legislative aide in the Wisconsin State Capitol for more than a decade.
James Garcia
Texas/New Mexico/Colorado/Arizona/Utah/Nevada/Alaska
James Garcia was National Field Director for Romney for President and then served as the campaign’s Colorado State Manager for the general election. He previously served as the Executive Director of the Colorado Republican Committee from 2009 to 2011, as an RNC Deputy Regional Political Director during the 2010 cycle, as the RNC’s Victory Executive Director for Colorado in 2008, and as a field director for Rudy Giuiliani’s presidential campaign.
Peter Graves
Montana/Wyoming/Idaho/Washington/Oregon/California/Hawaii
Peter has served as the Executive Director of the Washington State Republican Party since 2011; before that, he was the state party’s Political Director. His previous experience includes local and statewide politics. He was the field manager for Dino Rossi’s gubernatorial campaign and has served as campaign manager for state house and congressional races.
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