Presidential election Iowa staffers, 2016

See also: Presidential election in Iowa, 2016

Every four years, the Iowa Caucuses begin the presidential election season for U.S. voters. Iowa campaigning is known for its personal nature; as Northeastern University's "Conventions and Campaigns" project notes: "In Iowa, candidates must interact on a face-to-face, personalized basis, engaging in 'retail politics.'" Because Iowa is so early in the nomination process, it is often seen as an important first step to receiving a party's nomination. Thus, many presidential hopefuls fill out their staffs with "operatives who have worked tirelessly on Senate and House campaigns" throughout the state.

The following is a list of all the Iowa staffers that Ballotpedia has profiled for the 2016 presidential election. A fuller individual profile—including the staffer's background, previous experience and current campaign work—can be found by clicking on the link in each staffer's name. Clicking the link in the campaign logo on the right will take you to Ballotpedia's comprehensive profile of that candidate's 2016 campaign.

Republican Campaigns
	Ryan Rhodes: Ryan Rhodes is Ben Carson's Iowa state director. He previously worked as the tea party outreach director for Michele Bachmann's 2012 presidential campaign. He joined Carson's campaign in January 2015, stating, "there's no better person to advocate restoring the American dream than Ben."
	Tracie Gibler: Tracie Gibler is the Iowa state director for Lindsey Graham's 2016 presidential campaign. When Gibler was hired, Graham's senior advisor Christian Ferry said: "We are excited to have Tracie on the team as she has a strong understanding of how to build a grassroots organization in the state and will be a tremendous asset in helping Senator Graham continue to meet and hear from Iowa caucusgoers and activists."
	Matt M. Parker: Matt M. Parker is an Iowa advisor to Bobby Jindal's 2016 presidential campaign and is the legislative affairs director in the Louisiana Governor's office. On March 31, 2015, The Des Moines Register reported that Parker had been relocated to Iowa in order to "slide into national campaign roles for Jindal."
	Steve Grubbs: Steve Grubbs is an Iowa advisor for Rand Paul's PAC, RAND PAC. Grubbs is a former chair of the Iowa Republican Party and served as a member of the Iowa House of Representatives from 1990 to 1996. When Grubbs joined Paul's staff in 2014, Paul told Bloomberg that Grubbs' chief asset is his knowledge of Iowa and the state's politics: "He's been on the inside, as far as being in the legislature. He's been on the outside, as a successful entrepreneur. He's known as a businessman as well as a political consultant. I've been really impressed with his ability to find, seek out, and get us access to meet people. If we get involved in something in Iowa, it needs to be a coalition."
	A.J. Spiker: A.J. Spiker is an Iowa advisor for RAND PAC. Spiker was the chair of the Iowa Republican Party from 2012 to 2014, when he stepped down to join RAND PAC as an advisor.
	Robert Haus: Robert Haus was a senior Iowa strategist for Rick Perry's 2016 presidential campaign. Of Perry's Iowa hires, the Washington Post noted: "GOP operatives looked favorably on his choice of senior strategist Bob Haus and a team of field staffers who all have presidential caucus experience, know the grassroots and are respected by the activists all these candidates are courting."
	Andy Swanson: Andy Swanson was Perry's Iowa state director. Previously, Swanson has worked as an Iowa field representative for John McCain's 2008 presidential campaign and Tim Pawlenty's 2012 presidential run.
	Jack Whitver: Jack Whitver is serving as chairman and strategist in Iowa for Marco Rubio's 2016 presidential campaign. He is a Republican member of the Iowa State Senate, representing District 19. He was first elected to the chamber on January 18, 2011.
	Walt Rogers: Walt Rogers is serving as chairman in Iowa for Rick Santorum's 2016 presidential campaign. He is a Republican member of the Iowa House of Representatives, representing District 60. He was first elected to the chamber in 2010.
	Ryan Keller: Ryan Keller is the Iowa deputy state director for Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign. Previously, Keller worked on two U.S. House campaigns for Brad Zaun (R-Iowa), was an organizational director for Americans for Rick Perry and was the executive director of the Polk County (Iowa) Republicans.
	Chuck Laudner: Chuck Laudner is the Iowa state director for Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign. According to the Washington Post, Laudner's hiring was a sign that Trump "intends to wage a serious campaign." The paper also reported that Laudner gives voters a reason to look beyond Trump's celebrity status: "Some Iowa party leaders say Trump has earned a second look merely by bringing a well-respected consultant on board."

Democratic Campaigns
	Michelle Kleppe: Michelle Kleppe is the Iowa field director for Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign. She is a former partner of 270 Strategies. She worked with the coordinated campaign of the Democratic Party in Virginia in 2013 and as a field organizer in Wisconsin, first for Obama's 2008 campaign and then for Organizing for America, a grassroots organizing offshoot of Obama's first campaign.
	Jake Oeth: Jake Oeth is Martin O'Malley's Iowa state director. Oeth was hired in December 2014, and Iowa Starting Line noted, "Whatever role Oeth might eventually serve on an O’Malley presidential run in Iowa, it’s a great get for the former Maryland governor. Well-respected inside the party, Oeth is particularly well-liked by county-level activists around the state."
	Joe Stanley: Joe Stanley is Jim Webb's Iowa state director. Stanley joined Webb's organization in May 2015. He previously worked on Webb's U.S. Senate campaign in 2006, playing a key role in new media outreach.

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