DES MOINES – Today the Iowa Democratic Party announced key hires for the 2020 caucus and general election cycle. These hires aim to fill senior leadership positions and build out an aggressive caucus organizing program.
Seth Cohen will serve as Caucus to Convention Director, overseeing the implementation of the 2020 Delegation Selection Plan beginning with ensuring the first in the nation Iowa Caucuses are a success. Seth has spent numerous cycles as an organizer, Finance Director, and Campaign Manager.
Mandy McClure will serve as Communications Director, where she will oversee the communications strategy surrounding the first in the nation Iowa Caucuses and other Party communications including holding Senator Ernst accountable. Prior to joining the Iowa Democratic Party, she was the Midwest Press Secretary for the Democratic National Committee, Press Secretary for Senator Tom Harkin, and is a native Iowan.
Jonah Hermann will now serve as Head of Media, a role he had been serving on an interim basis since February, where he will strategize around online and offline messaging, and branding of the Iowa Democratic Party. He previously served as the party’s digital director for the 2018 cycle and has spent many cycles in digital, communications, and organizing roles.
Blair Lawton remains on staff as Party Affairs Director. He will be working closely with county parties, presidential campaigns and partners, and managing the organizing staff to build a powerful party infrastructure that exists year round and is prepared to mobilize supporters. He served as the party’s Organizing Director in 2018, and several other campaigns including with Bernie Sanders and Barack Obama.
Additionally, Amanda Ludwigs, Mauricio Diaz, Caitrin Sneed, and Hal Goetz join the IDP as District Organizing Directors. Each of them worked in Iowa during the 2018 cycle and will be working with county parties and local activists to ensure each of the 1,679 precinct caucuses are a success and that the Party is building a strong infrastructure for 2020.
“I am thrilled to welcome these incredibly talented staffers to the Iowa Democratic Party family. They are joining an existing team of folks who will lead Democrats into the future in the Hawkeye State.
“Together, we will be laying the groundwork to defeat Senator Joni Ernst and Steve King, continue to hold Kim Reynolds and the GOP legislature accountable, flip the state House and Senate, and support our incumbent Democrats in Congress. And of course, we will be organizing the most transparent, accessible, and successful Iowa caucuses ever.
“This is the next wave of the team that will get the job done!” said Iowa Democratic Party Chair Troy Price.