Nancy Jacobson | |
|---|---|
 Jacobson in 2007 | |
| Born | November 9, 1962 |
| Education | Syracuse University (BA) American University (MA) |
| Occupation | CEO of No Labels |
| Political party | Independent (2010–present) |
| Other political affiliations | Democratic (before 2010) |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 4 [a] |
Nancy Jacobson (born November 9, 1962) is an American political activist. A former fundraiser for the Democratic Party, she later became founder and CEO of the centrist organization No Labels. [1]
Jacobson was born in Miami, Florida, on November 9, 1962. [2] She graduated from Syracuse University. [3] Jacobson's first political organizing occurred as a student at Syracuse University, where she organized a fundraising event to support then-Senator Gary Hart's 1984 campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination. [4]
She supported Al Gore’s presidential campaign in 1988, [5] and Bill Clinton's presidential campaign in 1991, and was the finance director of the 1992 Presidential Inaugural Committee. [6] She later served as finance chair of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and the Democratic Leadership Council (DLC). [4]
From 1995 through 2010, she was the national finance director for Sen. Evan Bayh. She oversaw his political and fundraising strategy during his 2008 bid for the Democratic presidential nomination. [3] In 2007, Jacobson was named one of the 50 Most Powerful People in D.C. by GQ Magazine. [7] She has also been referred to as "one of the most powerful women in Washington." [8]
Jacobson founded No Labels in 2010 with the stated goal of promoting bipartisanship. [9] The organization has put forth ideas that it claims will "put problem solving above politics", [10] and purports to support centrist, moderate social and economic policies.
The No Labels group has been instrumental in the creation of the Problem Solvers Caucus. [11] [12] [13] A number of proposals supported by the group have been signed into law. [14] [15] [16] In 2021, the Problem Solvers Caucus, composed of an equal number of Democrats and Republicans, released a "Building Bridges" blueprint for a bipartisan infrastructure deal. It was the first deal to be endorsed by Republicans and Democrats during that budget cycle. [17] [18] In connection with her work with No Labels, New York Times columnist David Brooks described her in 2016 as an "undeterrable" leader. [1]
No Labels has also been criticized of fostering a toxic environment by former employees, according to Politico . [19]
Jacobson is married to Mark Penn, president and managing partner of The Stagwell Group, former Democratic pollster and executive for Microsoft and Burson-Marsteller. [20] The couple met in 1996 when Evan Bayh, then governor of Indiana, introduced them at a Democratic Leadership Council event. They married in 1999. They have four children. [3]