WASHINGTON – The Democratic National Committee (DNC) today announced the addition of several battle-tested, experienced strategists to its general election team. Over the next 63 days, these key additions will help the Committee execute its strategy to help elect Hillary Clinton and Tim Kaine, stand up to Donald Trump and his dangerous and divisive ideas, and support Democrats across the country to deliver victories up and down the ballot. These announcements are made as the DNC continues to build on the momentum of a successful convention, the ratification of the most progressive party platform in history, and the summer build-up of robust coordinated campaigns unified with the Hillary Clinton’s campaign and state parties.

The hires include Jose Aristimuño as Deputy National Press Secretary; Julia Barnes as Executive Director of the Association of State Democratic Chairs; Rania Batrice as Senior Political Advisor for Progressive Engagement; Angelique Cannon-Harris as National Finance Director; Adam Hodge as Communications Director; Lindsay Holst as Digital Director; Cynthia Jasso-Rotunno as Senior Political Advisor for External Affairs; Charles Olivier as Chief Financial Officer; and Adam Parkhomenko as National Field Director.

“We are thrilled to welcome these top-notch professionals to the DNC family as we enter the final stretch of the 2016 election,” said DNC Interim Chair Donna Brazile. “Their experience and savvy will be instrumental in our efforts to elect Hillary Clinton and Tim Kaine and Democrats up and down the ballot this November.”

The Committee also announced the promotion of several DNC veterans. Brandon Neal will serve as Political Director, and Rachel Palermo and Jenna Price have each been promoted to the position of Assistant Press Secretary.

“Our general election team has extensive experience in electoral politics across the country and we are ready for the final push to election day,” said DNC General Election Chief of Staff Brandon Davis. “Building on the DNC’s diverse, highly qualified team, and working closely with the Clinton campaign and candidates up and down the ticket, these new hires and promoted staffers will support a general election strategy that will elect Hillary Clinton to the White House, and Democrats to Congress and State Houses all across the country.”

The Committee will continue to add talented staffers to lend even more firepower to our communications, fundraising, data, and digital departments. This will ensure we are ready to do everything we can to energize, mobilize, register, and turn out voters for Democrats across the country.

More About the Team:

Jose Aristimuño, Deputy National Press Secretary, comes from the Department of Health and Human Services, where he was the Director of Specialty Media. During this election cycle, Aristimuño was the Deputy National Press Secretary and Director of Hispanic Media for Governor Martin O’Malley’s presidential campaign.

Julia Barnes, Executive Director of the Association of State Democratic Chairs, came to the DNC from Bernie 2016, where she served as New Hampshire State Director and then as the National Field Director. Prior to her time with Senator Sanders, she was the Vermont Democratic Party's Executive Director for three years. From 2007 to 2012, Barnes held positions with Obama for America, the DNC, the New Hampshire Democratic Party, Governor John Lynch (D-NH) and Biden for President.

Rania Batrice, Senior Political Advisor for Progressive Engagement, most recently served as Deputy Campaign Manager on the Bernie Sanders presidential campaign and as the campaign’s communications director in Iowa.

Angelique Cannon-Harris, National Finance Director. She is an alumna of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, where she was Finance Director for the 2012 and 2014 cycles. Cannon-Harris will also continue to maintain her duties as Deputy National Finance Director for the Mid-Atlantic region for Hillary for America.

Adam Hodge, Communications Director, most recently served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs at the U.S. Department of the Treasury after first serving as Spokesperson. Prior to his stint at Treasury, Adam was a Regional Press Secretary and the Director of African American Media at the DNC. He also worked at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, in the Office of the House Majority Whip, James Clyburn, at the House Oversight Committee, and for Senator Chris Dodd.

Lindsay Holst, Digital Director, joined the DNC from Vice President Joe Biden’s office, where she was Director of Digital Strategy. She came to the White House in September 2013 and initially served as Director of Digital Content in the Office of Digital Strategy. Holst held prior positions with the 2012 Obama for America campaign, the DNC and MSHC Partners.

Cynthia Jasso-Rotunno, Senior Political Advisor for External Affairs, arrives at the DNC from the 2016 Democratic National Convention Committee, where she was Senior Advisor and Director of Government Relations. In President Bill Clinton’s second term, she became the first Hispanic woman appointed as White House Political Affairs Office Chief of Staff in a Democratic administration. She is also a veteran of the Obama Administration.

Brandon Neal, Political Director, served nearly eight years in the Obama Administration at the U.S. Department of Transportation as Director of Small Business and Senior Advisor to the Secretary prior to joining the DNC. He was previously a Finance Director for the Presidential Inauguration Committee and Obama for America, Deputy Political Director and Director of Civic Engagement at the Democratic Governors Association, and National Youth Director at the National Office of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).

Charles Olivier, Interim Chief Financial Officer, joined the DNC from Hillary for America, where he was the Deputy Chief Financial Officer & Controller. He also held prior positions as the COO of Smoot Tewes Group and various accounting roles with Obama for America.

Adam Parkhomenko, National Field Director, joined the DNC from Hillary for America, where he served as Director of Grassroots Engagement from the launch of the campaign as well as state director for the Maryland and District of Columbia primaries. Prior to Secretary Clinton's official campaign, he founded and directed Ready for Hillary PAC.

Rachel Palermo and Jenna Price, Assistant Press Secretaries, were both promoted from their role as DNC press assistants. Palermo was previously at American Bridge 21st Century and has held internships with Precision Strategies and the Department of Justice. Price has held internships at Uber Technologies, NPR and Facebook.  

The new hires and promotions will be working with the DNC’s senior team led by:

Brandon Davis, General Election Chief of Staff

Tom McMahon, DNC Transition

Doug Thornell, Senior Advisor

Andrew Brown, Technology Director

Marilyn Davis, National Director of Community Engagement

Lauren Dillon, Director of Research

Maureen Garde, Director of State Party Programs

Julie Greene, Director of the Secretary’s Office

Gregory Hinton, Chief Diversity Officer

Mark Paustenbach, National Press Secretary

Anu Rangappa, Senior Advisor for General Election

Lindsey Reynolds, Chief Operating Officer

Patrice Taylor, Director of Party Affairs and Delegate Selection

Eric Walker, Deputy Communications Director

Collin Ward, Director of Marketing

Pratt Wiley, National Director of Voter Expansion