The National Republican Senatorial Committee, led by Sen. Jerry Moran of Kansas, announced its senior staff for the 2014 cycle Tuesday. The new hires a number of alumni of Mitt Romney’s 2008 and 2012 presidential campaigns.
Ward Baker, Political Director
Ward Baker has served as an advisor to over twenty members of Congress and many statewide elected officials, Baker has vast experience running Victory programs and overseeing independent expenditure campaigns. Most recently he served as a senior advisor to the Romney for President where he acted as the official liaison to the Republican National Committee overseeing a $100 million dollar budget. Prior to the 2012 cycle, Baker was a member of Majority Strategies. He has also served as a senior political advisor on Governor Rick Scott’s 2010 campaign, Republican State Legislative Committee, the Bush-Cheney Campaign in Florida 2004, and Haley Barbour’s successful 2003 Gubernatorial campaign in Mississippi. Ward and his wife Jennifer have one daughter Lillian.
Shelly Carson, Finance Director
Shelly Carson brings over a decade of national fundraising experience to the NRSC having served in senior positions for some of the Republican Party’s most successful fundraising initiatives. In addition to working at the Republican National Committee, Carson has worked on a number of top campaigns, including Senator Jim DeMint’s 2004 Senate campaign where she served as Finance Director and Governor Romney’s 2008 presidential campaign where she served as Deputy National Finance Director. For the last several years Carson has owned and operated a successful fundraising business in Dallas, Texas where she raised money and offered strategic counsel to a range of candidates around the country.
Brad Dayspring, Communications Director
Brad Dayspring most recently served as a Senior Advisor to the YG Action Fund, a conservative Super PAC. Prior to that Dayspring served as Press Secretary, Communications Director, and Deputy Chief of Staff for Majority Leader Eric Cantor. His other experience on Capitol Hill includes serving as Communications Director for the Republican Study Committee (RSC) under Chairman Jeb Hensarling (R-TX), as well as for Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Budget Chairman and current Ohio Governor John Kasich. Dayspring also worked in White House for nearly three years as President George W. Bush’s Deputy Director of Press Advance. Twitter handle: @BDayspring.
Kevin McLaughlin, Senior Advisor
As senior advisor, Kevin McLaughlin will provide strategy and help manage messaging for all Republican Senate campaigns. McLaughlin currently operates North Star, LLC, a boutique communications consulting firm whose clients during the 2012 cycle included U.S. Senate races in Utah, Nebraska, Maine, and Connecticut. Previously, he worked for the DCI Group, in the U.S. Senate as Communications Director for Senator John Cornyn, on numerous other Senate campaigns, John McCain’s presidential campaign and at the Republican National Committee. Twitter handle: @KevinMcLaughlin.
Mark McLaughlin, Research Director
Mark McLaughlin brings a depth of experience and institutional knowledge to his new position having worked at the NRSC for the previous two election cycles. McLaughlin was Deputy Research Director in the 2012 cycle, and a research analyst in the 2010 cycle. Prior to his service at the NRSC, he worked in the communications department for Governor Romney’s 2008 presidential campaign. McLaughlin is a Massachusetts native, and a graduate of Northeastern University.
Megan Sowards, General Counsel
Megan Sowards joins the NRSC from the Romney for President campaign where she served as Deputy General Counsel and advised on a range of key legal matters. She previously practiced political and international trade law at Patton Boggs. Megan began her career in the U.S. Senate where she served as speechwriter and press secretary for two Republican Senators before moving to the Bush Administration where she served as a speechwriter at the U.S. Department of State. Megan received her undergraduate degree from Middlebury College and her J.D. from the University of Michigan.
