Today the Democratic National Committee is announcing its first senior staff hires following President Biden’s inauguration and the selection of DNC Chair Jaime Harrison: Sam Cornale will serve as Executive Director, and Mary Beth Cahill will continue her service to the party as Senior Advisor.
At the DNC, this leadership team will work to grow President Biden’s political operation and infrastructure, advance the agenda of the Biden-Harris administration, and lay the groundwork for a successful midterm election for Democrats at every level of the ballot.
The DNC will announce additional senior staff in the weeks ahead — continuing the Committee’s commitment to building a senior leadership team which reflects the Democratic Party and incorporates its top political talent.
“Under Mary Beth’s leadership the DNC played a critical role in electing President Biden and Vice President Harris, and their continued work with Sam at the helm will ensure President Biden’s commitment to a strong DNC and Democratic party infrastructure is fulfilled,” said former Biden Campaign Manager Jen O’Malley Dillon. “With incoming Chair Harrison, this team will continue to support the vital work of grassroots Democrats, advance the priorities voters endorsed by electing the Biden-Harris administration, and set the stage for Democrats’ continued success in the campaigns ahead.”
“These battle-tested leaders know how to win, build a political operation that is second to none, and I’m excited they will lead the critical work of the DNC,” said incoming DNC Chair Jaime Harrison. “Their continued work will help fulfill the mission of the DNC: growing Democrats’ infrastructure in every part of every state, standing up for the principles we believe in, and marshalling the full resources of the Democratic Party in support of the Biden-Harris administration.”
“In 2020 a revitalized DNC helped President Biden and Vice President Harris win a historic race for the White House — and helped Democrats flip the Senate, hold the House and strengthen our party at every level. This work is important, not just to winning elections but to improving people’s lives,” said DNC Executive Director Sam Cornale. “President Biden and my friend incoming Chair Harrison are committed to investing in state parties and our grassroots, building a top-notch political infrastructure in every zip code, and making sure our organization reflects the diverse voices of our great Democratic family. I look forward to working with Chairman Harrison to build a team reflective of the diversity of our party, and one that will work tirelessly to make these goals a reality and lead Democrats to future success.”
“The effective, hard work done at the DNC helped win the White House and secure Democratic victories up and down the ticket — now we need to redouble our efforts,” said DNC Senior Advisor Mary Beth Cahill. “A well run and strategic DNC is the foundation for Democrats’ success everywhere, and I couldn’t be more excited to continue this important work in support of the Biden-Harris administration and the entire Democratic Party.”
“These leaders will build on the successes of the DNC during the last four years, and take our party forward with the purpose, tactics and values that all Democrats will be proud of,” said outgoing DNC Chair Tom Perez. “Along with Jaime and our new DNC officers, they will bring their invaluable experience and dedication to the task of growing and leading a strong, vibrant Democratic Party under President Biden and Vice President Harris. This week during his inauguration, Americans saw again that President Biden is our Healer in Chief and represents the best of our party’s values — a focus on making life better, more fair and more prosperous for more Americans. I know this team will continue to do everything in their power to fight alongside this administration for these principles.”
Biographies are below:
Sam Cornale
Sam Cornale is one of the top political, communications and campaign strategists in the Democratic Party, with more than a decade of experience on campaigns and across the Federal government. Cornale currently serves as the Deputy CEO at the Democratic National Committee, overseeing the operations of the DNC’s communications, opinion research, fundraising, and data and technology work. Prior to serving the DNC, Cornale managed DNC Chair Tom Perez’s successful campaign to lead the Democratic Party, an effort that raised a seven figure sum in just six weeks and resulted in a come-from-behind victory. Cornale is a veteran of the Obama Administration, having served multiple cabinet secretaries as a speechwriter and as the Deputy Chief of Staff to then-Labor Secretary Tom Perez. Cornale is also a veteran of the 2008 and 2012 Obama campaigns, with experience in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, and the 2016 campaign of Secretary Hillary Clinton in North Carolina.
Cornale earned his degree in political science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is a native of Madison, Wisconsin, and an obsessive follower of the Wisconsin Badgers and Green Bay Packers. Cornale serves as a lecturer at the University of Wisconsin, teaching a political science course on the evolution of media and its impact on presidential campaigns and governance. He lives in Washington, D.C., with his two-year-old Ridgeback, June.
Mary Beth Cahill
Mary Beth Cahill has spent her professional life in public service, has established herself as a leader in Democratic politics, and is currently the DNC’s CEO. She served as Campaign Manager for John Kerry for President, Chief of Staff to Senator Edward Kennedy, and prior to that, as Assistant to the President and Director of Public Liaison in Bill Clinton’s White House.
Cahill successfully managed Edward J. Markey’s campaign for a seat in the United States House of Representatives, and then went on to manage Senate campaigns for Patrick Leahy in Vermont, Claiborne Pell in Rhode Island and Les AuCoin in Oregon. In between campaign activity, Cahill served in various positions for the Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, including Director of Federal-State Relations under Governor Michael Dukakis and Director of the Governor’s Personnel Office.
Cahill is recognized as an expert on Women and Politics. For over five years, she served as Executive Director of EMILY’s List, and has trained female candidates for political office across the globe.
Cahill has received numerous awards and honors. She was named a “Mover and Shaker” by Campaigns and Elections magazine, and recognized as one of the POLITICS “Fabulous Fifty” by Roll Call. Cahill also was honored as one of the Top Political Action in Leaders in America by Campaigns and Elections. After graduating from Emmanuel College, she began her political career as a staff associate and receptionist for former Congressman Robert F. Drinan (D-Mass.).
