Steve McMahon (consultant)

Last updated
Steve McMahon
Alma mater University of Nebraska–Lincoln
University of Iowa College of Law
OccupationMedia consultant
Employer(s) Purple Strategies
McMahon Squier and Associates
Known forMedia consultant for Howard Dean's presidential campaign

Steve McMahon is an American lawyer and media consultant who has worked on political campaigns for Democratic candidates including Ted Kennedy, Howard Dean, and Dick Gephardt, in addition to his work with elected officials. He is a founding partner of Purple Strategies, a bipartisan communications firm located in Alexandria, Virginia, and McMahon Squier and Associates, a media consulting firm.

Contents

Career

Early career

Steve McMahon trained as an attorney, graduating from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and the University of Iowa College of Law. [1] He helped with Senator Ted Kennedy's 1980 presidential campaign [2] [3] before starting his professional career as an assistant press secretary in Kennedy's Senate office. He later became a deputy director of Kennedy's political action committee, the Fund for a Democratic Majority. [4] In 1987, he transitioned into media consulting when he was hired as a vice president at Doak, Shrum and Associates, an Arlington, Virginia-based media consulting firm. While at the firm his notable work included consulting for Dick Gephardt's 1988 presidential campaign and other political campaigns. [4] [5] [6]

McMahon Squier and Associates

In 1991, McMahon co-founded the media consulting firm Trippi McMahon and Squier with Mark Squier and Joe Trippi. [4] McMahon's early work for the firm included a role as media strategist for California governor Jerry Brown's 1992 presidential campaign. [7] Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, McMahon and his partners worked on all five of Howard Dean's gubernatorial campaigns. [4] McMahon was also a strategist and consultant for Dean's 2004 campaign for the US presidency. [8] Following Dean's departure from the race, McMahon's firm served as the lead advertising partner for the Media Fund, which produced ads in support of then-Senator John Kerry's presidential campaign. [9] [10] After the 2004 presidential election, McMahon worked on Dean's successful 2005 campaign for chairman of the Democratic National Committee. [8] [9] [11]

In addition to leading Trippi McMahon and Squier, in 1999 McMahon and his partners also established a second company, Issue & Image, which focused on advocacy advertising. [12] [13]

During the 2008 election cycle, McMahon produced advertisements for the Democratic National Committee in support of Barack Obama's presidential campaign. He also worked as a senior media consultant for the 2008 Democratic National Convention, [14] [1] which was co-produced by his partner Mark Squier. [15]

McMahon's firm went through several name changes in the mid to late 2000s, including following the departure of Joe Trippi in 2004. [16] [5] From 2009 onwards, the firm has been called McMahon Squier and Associates. [17]

Purple Strategies

In 2008, McMahon merged Issue & Image, the advocacy advertising firm established in 1999, with Republican Alex Castellanos' firm National Media Public Affairs, to form the communications firm Purple Strategies. McMahon and Castellanos had often met each other while pitching to clients and decided to form Purple Strategies as a bipartisan consultancy, blending their "blue" and "red" political backgrounds. [18] [19] [20] Other founding partners of the Alexandria, Virginia-based firm include Bruce Haynes and Mark Squier. [18] At Purple Strategies, McMahon has worked with BP, PhRMA and the United States Chamber of Commerce. [21] [22] [14] Other clients of the firm include Time Warner Cable, Coca-Cola and McDonald's. [23] [24]

Other activities

In addition to his role as a consultant, McMahon is a regular guest commentator on television and has appeared on Today , Good Morning America , Meet the Press , MSNBC's Hardball with Chris Matthews and Andrea Mitchell Reports not to mention frequent appearances on C-SPAN's morning call-in show, Washington Journal. [17] [1] [25]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joe Trippi</span> American political strategist (born 1956)

Joseph Paul Trippi is an American political strategist. A member of the Democratic Party, Trippi most notably served as campaign manager of Howard Dean's 2004 presidential bid, and has served as a political commentator for CNN since 2018. He has worked on a number of prominent gubernatorial and United States Senate campaigns, including the successful bids of Jerry Brown for Governor of California and Doug Jones for U.S. Senate in Alabama.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bob Shrum</span> American journalist

Robert M. "Bob" Shrum is the director of the Center for the Political Future and the Carmen H. and Louis Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics at the University of Southern California, where he is a professor of political science in the Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences. He is a former American political consultant, who has worked on numerous Democratic campaigns, including as senior advisor to the Kerry-Edwards campaign in 2004 and to the Gore-Lieberman campaign in 2000. Shrum wrote the famous speech Ted Kennedy gave at the 1980 Democratic National Convention conceding to and supporting President Jimmy Carter. He has been described as "the most sought-after consultant in the Democratic Party." Shrum served as speechwriter to New York Mayor John V. Lindsay from 1970 to 1971, speechwriter to Senator George McGovern's 1972 presidential campaign and speechwriter and press secretary to Senator Edward M. Kennedy from 1980 to 1984 and political consultant until 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Axelrod (political consultant)</span> American political consultant (born 1955)

David M. Axelrod is an American political consultant, analyst, and former White House official. He is best known for being the chief strategist for Barack Obama's presidential campaigns. After Obama's election, Axelrod was appointed as Senior Advisor to the President. He left the position in early 2011 and became the Senior Strategist for Obama's successful re-election campaign in 2012. Axelrod wrote for the Chicago Tribune, and joined CNN as Senior Political Commentator in 2015. Until recently, Axelrod served as the director of the non-partisan University of Chicago Institute of Politics. His memoir is titled Believer: My Forty Years in Politics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Plouffe</span> American political and business strategist (born 1967)

David Plouffe is an American political and business strategist best known as the campaign manager for Barack Obama's successful 2008 presidential campaign. A long-time Democratic Party campaign consultant, he was a partner at the party-aligned campaign consulting firm AKPD Message and Media, which he joined in 2000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Patrick Caddell</span> American public opinion pollster (1950–2019)

Patrick Hayward Caddell was an American public opinion pollster and a political film consultant who served in the Carter administration. He worked for Democratic presidential candidates George McGovern in 1972, Jimmy Carter in 1976 and 1980, Gary Hart in 1984 (primary), Walter Mondale in 1984, Joe Biden in 1988, and Jerry Brown in 1992. He also worked for Mario Cuomo, Bob Graham, Michael Dukakis, Paul Simon, Ted Kennedy, Harold Washington, Andrew Romanoff and Donald Trump.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Howard Dean</span> American politician (born 1948)

Howard Brush Dean III is an American physician, author, consultant, and retired politician who served as the 79th governor of Vermont from 1991 to 2003 and chair of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) from 2005 to 2009. Dean was an unsuccessful candidate for the Democratic nomination in the 2004 presidential election. Later, his implementation of the fifty-state strategy as head of the DNC is credited with the Democratic victories in the 2006 and 2008 elections. Afterward, he became a political commentator and consultant to McKenna Long & Aldridge, a law and lobbying firm.

Thomas A. "Tad" Devine is an American political consultant. Devine was a senior adviser in Al Gore's 2000 and John Kerry's 2004 Presidential campaigns. He was also the chief strategist for Bernie Sanders' 2016 presidential campaign. He has worked on campaigns for president and Prime Minister in Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East, as well as several U.S. Senate races. Devine is the president of Washington, D.C.-based media consulting firm Devine Mulvey Longabaugh.

Christopher Joseph LaCivita is an American political consultant, and partner in FP1 Strategies, a national public-affairs and campaign firm. LaCivita is currently a senior advisor to Donald Trump's 2024 presidential campaign.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alex Castellanos</span> Cuban American political consultant

Alejandro Castellanos is a Cuban-American political consultant. He has worked on electoral campaigns for Republican candidates including Bob Dole, George W. Bush, Jeb Bush, and Mitt Romney. In 2008, Castellanos, a partner at National Media Inc., co-founded Purple Strategies, a bipartisan communications firm. Castellanos is also a regular guest commentator on Meet the Press and a contributor for CNN.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stephanie Cutter</span> American lawyer and political consultant

Stephanie Cutter is an American political consultant. She served as an advisor to President Barack Obama during his first presidential term, and was deputy campaign manager for his 2012 re-election campaign. She previously worked in campaign and communications roles for other prominent Democrats including Ted Kennedy, John Kerry, and Michelle Obama. The New York Times described her as "a popular but polarizing face of (Obama's) campaign", and a "soldier who says the things the candidate can’t say."

Jeff Roe is an American political consultant and strategist for the Republican Party. He is the founder and principal of Axiom Strategies, a political consulting firm based in Kansas City, Missouri, with twelve offices in eight states. He formerly served as a chief of staff, campaign manager, and longtime aide for United States Representative Sam Graves.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jim Margolis</span> Political strategist (born 1955)

James David Margolis is an American political consultant and communications executive based in Washington, DC. He served as an advisor to Barack Obama in both his 2008 and 2012 campaigns for the White House. Margolis is a partner at GMMB, Inc., a strategic communications firm and advertising agency. Previously he served as chief of staff to US Senator Kent Conrad, chief of staff to US Congressman Howard Wolpe, and Deputy Director of Communications for Vice President Walter Mondale's presidential campaign.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Purple Strategies</span> American communications firm

Purple Strategies is an American communications firm headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia and founded in 2008. The name Purple Strategies reflects the company's bipartisan blend of strategists from both "blue" and "red" political backgrounds. Purple Strategies also operates a subsidiary, a reputation management firm Citizen2.

Mark Squier is an American strategic advisor and media consultant who has worked for Democratic candidates including Howard Dean, Ann Richards, and Robert Weygand. He is a founding partner of the media consulting firm McMahon Squier and Associates and is also a founding partner of Purple Strategies, a bipartisan communications firm.

Bruce Haynes is an American communications consultant. He is currently Chairman of Public Affairs, Managing Director and co-head of the Washington, D.C. office for Sard Verbinnen & Co., a global strategic communications and consulting firm.

Jeremy Bird is an American political strategist who has worked for the political campaigns of Barack Obama.

Vianovo is a United States and Mexico-based management and communication consultancy. The firm serves as a strategic advisor to corporations, startups and non-profit organizations on brand, policy and crisis issues. The bipartisan firm was founded in 2005 by political strategists Blaine Bull, Matthew Dowd, Tucker Eskew and James Taylor. Many of the firm's partners were previously senior staff members on presidential campaigns, at the White House, and on Capitol Hill.

Ben Self is the former chairman of the Kentucky Democratic Party, having been elected in November 2017. He was a co-founder for digital strategy firm Blue State Digital and is co-founder of West Sixth Brewery in Lexington, Kentucky.

Addisu Demissie is a Democratic Party political strategist. He managed Cory Booker's 2020 presidential campaign, Cory Booker's 2013 U.S. Senate campaign, Gavin Newsom's 2018 California gubernatorial campaign, Rahm Emanuel's 2011 Chicago mayoral campaign, and David Chiu's 2011 San Francisco mayoral campaign. He also worked on the 2008 presidential campaigns of Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign, and John Kerry's 2004 presidential campaign. He worked for Organizing for America. He also founded 50+1 Strategies.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Steve McMahon". purplestrategies.com. Purple Strategies. Retrieved 6 May 2013.
  2. ↑ Mark Leibovich (13 March 2013). "Ted Kennedy Jr. Is (Finally) Ready for the Family Business". The New York Times . Retrieved 30 May 2013.
  3. ↑ "Obama Beyond the Beltway". The New York Times . 20 February 2009. Retrieved 25 April 2013.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "2004 Tip Sheets Howard Dean (D)". National Journal . November 2004. Retrieved 25 April 2013.
  5. 1 2 Eliza Newlin (31 August 1991). "Washington's Movers and Shakers". National Journal . Retrieved 25 April 2013.
  6. ↑ "Key Staffers" (PDF). National Journal . 27 September 2003. Retrieved 25 April 2013.
  7. ↑ Jim Rutenberg (27 May 2008). "The Trouble With June 1992 as a Case for Pressing On". The New York Times . Retrieved 25 April 2013.
  8. 1 2 Thomas Schaller (28 October 2008). "What Barack Obama needs to do to close the deal". Salon . Retrieved 8 April 2013.
  9. 1 2 Josh Kurtz (9 September 2004). "Media Fund's Media Firm". Roll Call . Retrieved 25 April 2013.
  10. ↑ Meg Kinnard (15 October 2004). "Kerry & Media Fund Tell Voters: Don't Be Fooled". National Journal . Retrieved 30 May 2013.
  11. ↑ Susan Adams (22 March 2012). "What Should Romney Do About His Etch-A-Sketch Aide?". Forbes . Retrieved 25 April 2013.
  12. ↑ "Personnel News". The Bulletin's Frontrunner . 25 March 1999. Retrieved 25 April 2013.
  13. ↑ Noreen O'Leary (9 May 2013). "Purple Strategies Hires From Burnett, Emanuel Team". Adweek . Retrieved 10 May 2013.
  14. 1 2 Jaimy Lee (23 September 2009). "US Chamber awards largest campaign to Powell Tate, Purple Strategies". PRWeek . Retrieved 25 April 2013.
  15. ↑ Ian Donnis (20 May 2010). "Costantino adds staff for mayoral run". Rhode Island NPR . Retrieved 8 April 2013.
  16. ↑ "CongressDaily". National Journal . 12 May 2004. Retrieved 25 April 2013.
  17. 1 2 Chris Cillizza; Perry Bacon Jr. (19 January 2009). "2010: The Year of the Obama Effect?". The Washington Post . Retrieved 25 April 2013.
  18. 1 2 Mary Lu Carnevale (21 January 2009). "New Lobby Shop Sees Gold in Going Purple". The Wall Street Journal . Retrieved 25 April 2013.
  19. ↑ "Former Democratic Strategists Now Boost the GOP". The Nation . 1 September 2011. Retrieved 25 April 2013.
  20. ↑ Mike Allen (18 July 2011). "Rob Collins, Jim Jordan join Purple Strategies". Politico . Retrieved 8 April 2013.
  21. ↑ "Washington PR firms cashing in on BP spill". The Washington Post . 4 June 2010. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
  22. ↑ "Drug Industry Helping Obama Overhaul Health Care". FoxNews.com . 8 August 2009. Retrieved 30 May 2013.
  23. ↑ "In Negotiations, Corporate Antagonism Goes Public". The New York Times . 25 October 2010. Retrieved 9 April 2013.
  24. ↑ Lynn Sweet (20 February 2012). "Chris Mather joins Purple Strategies: Opening Chicago office". Chicago Sun-Times . Retrieved 30 May 2013.
  25. ↑ "Steve McMahon". bipartisanpolicy.org. Bipartisan Policy Center . Retrieved 30 May 2013.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.