Governor Terry Branstad’s campaign announced today that it has hired field directors in each of Iowa’s four Congressional districts. I enclose below the press release with background on Matt Leopold, Nic Pottebaum, Kaylee Carnahan, and Jacob Johnson. All four field directors have campaign experience, and all but Carnahan have Iowa campaign experience.
Reading the press release, I was struck by the way the governor’s campaign staff continue to talk about the “Branstad-Reynolds committee” in official communications as well as in less formal settings. The campaign’s registered name is Governor Branstad Committee. Lately Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds has accompanied Branstad to many public events. Traditionally, Iowa’s lieutenant governors have been sent out to handle events the governor could not attend, so that the administration could cover more ground. The “Branstad-Reynolds” team branding effort is one reason some Iowa Democrats suspect that the governor may announce shortly before next year’s filing deadline that he is not running for re-election–clearing a path for Reynolds to step in as the Republican establishment candidate for governor. I expect Branstad to seek a sixth term, barring a serious health problem.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, July 30, 2013
Branstad-Reynolds campaign committee expands organizational capacity, hires four field directors
(URBANDALE, Iowa) – Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds today announced their campaign committee – the Governor Branstad Committee – has hired four field directors who will lead organization efforts in each of Iowa’s four congressional districts.
“Governor Branstad and Lieutenant Governor Reynolds are putting an emphasis on building a robust organization throughout the state,” said campaign manager Jake Ketzner. “The organization we are building will be ready to hit the ground running should the governor and lieutenant governor decide to seek reelection, and help elect Republicans up and down the ticket in 2014.”
Matt Leopold will serve as the First Congressional District field director. A native of Mount Vernon, Iowa, Leopold is a veteran of numerous campaigns in Eastern Iowa. His experience includes Iowa Senate Republican Majority Fund in 2012, Dan Dolan for Congress 2012 and Miller-Meeks for Congress in 2010.
Nic Pottebaum will serve as the Second Congressional District field director. A native of Marion, Iowa, Pottebaum was the student body president at the University of Iowa from May 2012-May 2013. Pottebaum has worked on a number of campaigns including serving as UI Students for Branstad chairman in 2010, Miller-Meeks for Congress in 2008 and 2010, Rudy Giuliani for President in 2008 and Jim Leach for Congress in 2006.
Kaylee Carnahan will serve as the Third Congressional District field director. Carnahan is a native of Lincoln, Illinois, who attended Western Kentucky University. She worked for Romney for President in Ohio in 2012, and served as a field director for Roland Sledge for Railroad Commissioner in Houston, Texas. Since the 2012 election, Carnahan has worked at a public relations firm in Louisville, Kentucky.
Jacob Johnson will serve as the Fourth Congressional District field director. Johnson, a native of Stratford, Iowa, worked in the Office of the Governor, served as a field director for Congressman Steve King’s 2012 successful reelection campaign and worked as state coordinator for Brenna Findley for Iowa Attorney General in 2010.