Kirsten Gillibrand Campaign Announces New Round of Senior Staff Hires
Today, the Gillibrand 2020 campaign announced a new round of senior hires as Senator Kirsten Gillibrand crisscrosses the early states in her bid for the Democratic nomination. Gillibrand just wrapped up her first trip to South Carolina, and is returning to Iowa and New Hampshire over President’s Day weekend. The top-tier hires include two Granite State veterans who will be instrumental in Gillibrand’s push in the first in the nation primary.
“We are proud to announce the addition of this exceptional group of strategists to our team,” said Gillibrand Communications Director Meredith Kelly. “These new hires have won races across the country, and will strengthen our already robust campaign organization, particularly in the early states. Senator Gillibrand has already visited Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina, and she’s looking forward to building on that momentum.”
The hires include:
Semedrian Smith - National Political Director
Semedrian Smith will be joining the team as national political director after a successful 2018 cycle in Ohio as the deputy campaign manager for Senator Sherrod Brown’s re-election. She brings to the table multiple cycles of experience in field organizing and political programs across the country, in states such as Wisconsin, Arizona, Texas, Virginia, and Ohio. Born in rural Wisconsin, she studied creative writing and political science at Edgewood College.
Danielle Duffy - Chief Operating Officer
Danielle has spent the last nine years in the non-profit sector in operations, finance, and human resources. Previously, she worked for the League of Women Voters of the United States, was the director of operations for the DCCC IE during the 2008 campaign, and was the director of human resources for Rising Tide Interactive during the 2016 cycle. Danielle grew up on Isles of Capri, Florida. She has a MA in Political Management from the George Washington University Graduate School of Political Management and is a certified Professional in Human Resources (PHR).
Gavrie Kullman - Digital Finance Director
Gavrie Kullman leads Senator Gillibrand's digital fundraising operation. Prior to Gillibrand 2020, Gavrie was the digital director for the Democratic Governors Association and senior digital advisor to the National Democratic Redistricting Committee. With more than sixteen years of experience as a digital strategist, Gavrie has raised more than a hundred million dollars for political candidates at every level of government and large non-profits. He is originally from California, a graduate of the University of California Riverside, and will happily show you pictures of his two rescue dogs.
Pat Devney - New Hampshire State Director
Pat Devney joins Senator Gillibrand's campaign as New Hampshire state director. Over the past decade, Devney has managed campaigns at every level and successfully led Congresswoman Annie Kuster's re-elect in 2014 and managed Colin Van Ostern's gubernatorial bid in 2016. Prior to joining the Gillibrand campaign, he served as senior political advisor at the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.
Shannon McLeod - New Hampshire Political Director
Before joining team Gillibrand, Shannon ran Colin Van Ostern’s Secretary of State race and was Manchester Mayor Joyce Craig’s finance director for her successful 2017 campaign. In 2016, she served as call time and events manager for Colin Van Ostern's gubernatorial campaign. Shannon also organized the New Hampshire Women's Foundation Women Run! program. She is a graduate of George Washington University and lives in Manchester, NH.
