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* This is a first for Illinois…
Along with over-the-top spending, the Illinois gubernatorial race may be setting another record, too. Women are leading the campaigns of the two front-runners. […]
Betsy Ankney is campaign manager for Gov. Bruce Rauner and Anne Caprara is campaign manager for J.B. Pritzker. The two women come to the top statewide race after honing their skills on some of the most notable political campaigns in the country. […]
Caprara, whose name has popped up as a player in the next presidential cycle, is a 38-year-old Philadelphia native with a degree from American University. She previously worked at Emily’s List, “so I had the best entry because women were being uplifted,” she told me. Having women behind the scenes of a campaign is just as important as being a candidate, Caprara said. “Female senior staffers can make critical decisions, they can talk to the candidate and affect policy. You want to be in the room when decisions are being made.” Before Emily’s List, Caprara worked for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, helping oversee U.S. Senate races in 33 states. In 2008, she was campaign manager for first-time candidate Betsy Markey, a D challenging a three-term R for Congress in Colorado. After Markey’s victory, Caprara became chief of staff.
Ankney, a 31-year-old Toledo native and Vanderbilt University grad, ran Republican Sen. Ron Johnson’s campaign in 2016 when he pulled off an upset against Wisconsin’s Russ Feingold. She also ran field offices for Scott Brown’s winning 2010 U.S. Senate campaign in Massachusetts and Chris Christie’s first run as New Jersey governor. Ankney also worked at the Republican National Committee in 2012 and at the NRSC as a regional political director overseeing U.S. Senate races in the Midwest. She also got her start working for women in key positions behind the scenes, including Maria Cino and Mel Raines at the Republican National Convention in 2008 and Jessica Ennis at the Republican National Committee in 2010.
Politics isn’t the man’s world it was when Ankney and Caprara started. “You’re seeing more women are getting involved, taking on leadership roles and getting out of their wheelhouse (usually fundraising),” said Ankney, who for the past two years has taught at the Women’s Campaign School at Yale — a bipartisan education effort for women who want to run for office and run campaigns.
posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 10:20 am
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Quite the robust resumes for both of them, at such young ages.
Comment by wordslinger Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 10:22 am
And China Dickerson is running the campaign of Lauren Underwood, the Democratic Party candidate in the 14th Congressional District. Andra Belknap is that campaign’s communications director. A campaign with a significant focus on issues of specific importance to women.
Comment by IRLJ Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 11:18 am
Good for both of them!! This is inspiring in both cases.
Comment by A guy Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 11:31 am
Caprara is interesting in that outside of the state managers often have a difficult time with locals. There are a bunch of reasons for this with locals thinking they always know better and a history in Dem Politics of abrasive campaign managers from DCCC & DSCC.
I’ve heard none of that with Caprara which is an achievement in itself (I don’t doubt there is grumbling somewhere).
But great for both of them and both are really impressive. Caprara also has a great sense of humor and presence that doesn’t distract from her candidate.
Comment by Archpundit Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 11:41 am
Besides her twitter being comedy gold, Caprara comes across as someone willing to understand the local landscape here, and understanding that if you take all this too seriously, it reflects upon you that you may take yourself way too seriously too.
As Goldberg is/was my undisputed “Superstars” favorite, Caprara holds that distinction with Pritzker.
You can do very serious work, expensive work, tediously meticulous work… and be self-effacing, funny, and grounded… and let others in on the joke too.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 11:47 am
Ankney isn’t as visible (from what I’ve seen, I could be wrong) with social media and being herself as Caprara has, but her own resume and credentials and doing the work she’s done in alleged Blue States like Massachusetts and New Jersey, she’s made her bones and in places where getting your hands dirty is the way to get the tough things done.
Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 12:11 pm
That is good news.
I bet they both do a very good job.
Comment by Back to the Future Monday, Aug 13, 18 @ 1:07 pm