Richmond, VA — Kaine for Virginia is announcing numerous senior staff hires. Senator Kaine released the following statement:
“As a City Councilmember and Mayor, I cut crime, built schools, expanded jobs, and grew the population in Richmond. As Governor, I led Virginia to be America’s Best Managed State, the Best State for Business and the Best State for children. As Senator, I have fought for our troops and their families on the Armed Services Committee, secured major wins in expanding educational opportunities, lowered prescription drug costs, and expanded access to health care for all Americans.
“But I didn’t do it alone. Success depends on a great team. That’s why I’m excited to announce these senior staff members joining our campaign team who are battle-tested and know what it takes to win competitive races. With my long record of delivering for the Commonwealth and these talented individuals, our campaign is in a strong position to make the case to Virginians about my record of lowering costs for hardworking families, delivering for military families, and protecting democracy at home and abroad – and building on the progress we have made.”
Kaine for Virginia’s campaign senior staff includes the following:
- Keren Charles Dongo, Campaign Manager: Keren has been a long-time senior advisor to Senator Kaine, serving in multiple roles including state director and served as his campaign manager in 2018, leading to Senator Kaine’s largest margin of victory. She was the director of the Democratic Coordinated Campaign in 2012, which was responsible for Democratic victories in Virginia up and down the ballot and was an advisor to Representative Bobby Scott.
- Jenny Nadicksbernd, Senior Advisor: Jenny has been a long-time senior advisor to Senator Kaine and will continue in that role overseeing all of the fundraising operations. Through her efforts, Jenny has led Senator Kaine to record-breaking fundraising.
- Ivana Hall, Political Director: Most recently she was the Deputy Campaigns Director at the Virginia Senate Democratic Caucus for the 2023 legislative campaign helping to keep their democratic majority, in 2021 as the Field Director at the Virginia House Democratic Caucus and in 2019 as the Deputy Coordinated Campaign Director at the Democratic Party for Virginia for state legislative races. Other recent work she’s proud of is serving as the Distributed Director on the Reproductive Freedom Campaign in Michigan to codify Roe into the constitution in 2022 and serving the Organizing Director in 2020 for the Pennsylvania Dems and Biden/Harris Campaign.
- Yazan Hanouneh, Digital Director: Yazan most recently served as Deputy Digital Director for Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) in her official office, where he helped message on Democrats’ many legislative accomplishments across the President Pro Tempore’s digital platforms—in addition to highlighting her leadership chairing the Senate HELP and Appropriations Committees. Before that, he served as a Digital Strategist for the Tina Smith for Minnesota campaign in 2020.
- Arif Hasan, Research Director and Rapid Response Strategist: Arif is a veteran political research strategist who has worked on numerous competitive races in battleground states. He was most recently the Research Director on Governor Steve Sisolak’s 2022 re-election campaign in Nevada. He has also worked for the Biden-Harris Transition Team and the DCCC, where he led research efforts for frontline Congressional races including in Virginia, Texas, Pennsylvania and Michigan that were critical in defending the House majority.
- Michael Beyer, Communications Director: Michael most recently worked as Communications Director for Brandon Presley for Mississippi, where he led communications for the closest gubernatorial race in Mississippi in a generation. He has also worked as a Senior Communications Advisor at the Ohio Democratic Party, several gubernatorial races in New Hampshire and at the Democratic Governors Association, helping to re-elect Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards and elect Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear.
The announced senior staff members join a highly-experienced consultant team that has been with Senator Kaine since he ran for Lieutenant Governor and knows what it takes to win tough races in Virginia.
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