Sarah Isgur

Sarah Isgur
Basic facts
Location:	Washington, D.C.
Affiliation:	Republican
Education:	•Northwestern University (B.A. history and political science, 2004) •Harvard Law School (J.D. 2008)
Prior Experience •Ted Cruz 2010 Texas Attorney General •Mitt Romney 2012 presidential •Deputy campaign manager, Carly Fiorina 2016 presidential

Sarah Isgur is a Republican political advisor and former spokesperson at the U.S. Department of Justice. In April 2021, Isgur joined ABC as a news analyst.

For the 2016 election cycle, Isgur was the deputy campaign manager for Fiorina's 2016 presidential campaign.

She worked as political director for Ted Cruz's PAC, Texans for Ted Cruz, served as deputy communications director for the Republican National Committee and worked on Carly Fiorina's Unlocking Potential Project.

Isgur was also a legal advisor to Mitt Romney's PAC, Romney for President, and the National Republican Senatorial Committee.

Career

Law school and early political involvement

In 2004, before going to graduate school, Sarah Isgur worked in the Office of Congressional Communication for the Federal Aviation Administration. According to The Dallas Morning News, she also "worked as spokeswoman for Rep. John Culberson, R-Houston, one of the most conservative members of Congress." While in law school at Harvard, Isgur worked as a clerk for several law firms including the Office of Legal Policy at the Department of Justice, Cooper and Kirk, LLP and Wiley Rein, LLP. From 2007 to 2008, she worked within the legal department of Mitt Romney's 2008 presidential PAC, Romney for President. She also worked on Mitt Romney's 2008 presidential campaign as a fundraiser while still attending Harvard Law School. When Romney offered student fundraisers 10 percent of the money they raised for his campaign, CBS News Isgur told CBS News, "I spend a lot of hours at the campaign here. Some students are working at a law firm and earning $3,000 per week. My opportunity cost is pretty high some times, and this can take the edge off that."

After graduating from Harvard in 2008, Isgur began at the National Republican Senatorial Committee as legal counsel, then quickly transitioned to the U.S. Court of Appeals as a law clerk.

Ted Cruz 2010 campaign

In 2009, she was the political director of Texans for Ted Cruz, Ted Cruz's 2010 campaign for Texas State Attorney General. Cruz initially planned to run for the position in 2010 but, according to The Washington Post, he "changed his mind when his old boss [Greg Abbott] decided to stay in the job." Isgur was on the campaign payroll until April 2010.

Mitt Romney 2012 presidential campaign

In 2012, Isgur advised Mitt Romney in his 2012 presidential campaign bid. She was in charge of the Romney campaign's election day operations and provided legal consultation for the campaign. At the same time, she was also a research fellow with the Initiative on Neuroscience and Law at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas.

Republican National Committee

From 2013 to 2014, Isgur acted as deputy communications director for the Republican National Committee (RNC); in that capacity, she wrote a number of articles for the RNC. Anna Epstein, Carly Fiorina's press secretary, also worked for the RNC at the same time. At the RNC, Isgur was responsible for writing press releases and going on a number of cable news shows to promote the committee's messages. In 2014, she wrote in defense of the RNC's participation in the March for Life in Washington, D.C., saying, "Sadly, the Democratic National Committee sees this as an opportunity to go on the attack. It’s disheartening that they would try to disparage the marchers and misrepresent their cause. ... There’s a reason Democrats try to distort Republicans’ respect for life. It’s because the majority of Americans agree with Republicans on important life-related issues."

Carly Fiorina super PAC

In January 2015, Isgur took up the communications position with Carly Fiorina's super PAC, Unlocking Potential. CNN reported that the hiring signaled Fiorina's intentions to run for president in 2016. At the time of her hiring by the super PAC, Isgur said, "Carly Fiorina is a sharp, thoughtful and committed conservative leader who believes in the limitless potential of all Americans, and I'm looking forward to getting started."

Maverick PAC

In April 2016, Isgur was elected to the national board of the Texas-based Maverick PAC. The PAC is a conservative committee aimed at young conservative voters and engaging future political and business leaders. In 2015, Isgur was awarded as the PAC's Future 40, which highlights people the PAC sees as future leaders in politics and business.

Presidential election, 2016

Carly Fiorina campaign

See also: Carly Fiorina presidential campaign, 2016

In May 2015, Sarah Isgur transitioned from Carly Fiorina's super PAC to her presidential campaign as deputy campaign manager. As deputy campaign manager, Isgur was responsible for "policy, digital and communications strategy for Fiorina’s team," according to the Texas Tribune. The Fiorina campaign relied heavily on a super PAC supporting Fiorina, Carly for America. When The Washington Post looked to fact check Fiorina, Isgur directed the journalist to the super PAC. She told The New York Times, "The super PAC has just been very vocal in defending her, so I thought that they’d be good to talk to."

After placing seventh in the New Hampshire primary, Fiorina suspended her campaign on February 10, 2016.

Comments on Donald Trump's candidacy

After Fiorina dropped out of the presidential race, Isgur spoke with MSNBC about the potential for a convention challenge to Donald Trump, saying, "I will certainly hope for a contested convention, and if not I hope that someone will offer an alternative." According to the Daily Caller, Isgur also said that her disapproval of Trump was based on her belief in conservatism: "For a lot of us, this isn’t about party. This isn’t about winning for the sake of winning for our team. This is about our country. And it’s about a belief system. And I’m a conservative before I’m a Republican."

Jeff Sessions advisor

Beginning in mid-December 2016, Isgur advised Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), Donald Trump's nominee for U.S. Attorney General as part of his preparation for confirmation hearings in the U.S. Senate. According to Politico, her duties included preparing mock confirmation hearings with Sessions and acting as the nominee's spokesperson during the confirmation process. Of Sessions, Isgur said, "Senator Sessions has dedicated his career to upholding the rule of law and ensuring public safety so I'm proud to be a part of telling his story."

Political editor at CNN

On February 19, 2019, CNN announced that Isgur would be joining the organization as political editor to help oversee 2020 election coverage. According to Bloomberg, her duties would include coordinating 2020 presidential cycle coverage and analyzing political news on air.

Staff writer at The Dispatch

In November 2019, Isgur joined The Dispatch as a staff writer. As of May 2022, The Dispatch's website described the organization as "a digital media company providing engaged citizens with fact-based reporting and commentary on politics, policy and culture—informed by conservative principles."

News analyst at ABC

On April 4, 2022, George Stephanopoulos announced that Isgur would be joining ABC as a news analyst.

See also

• Carly Fiorina
• Carly Fiorina presidential campaign, 2016
• Republican National Committee
• Ted Cruz
• Mitt Romney

External links

• Sarah Isgur Flores on LinkedIn
• Sarah Isgur Flores on Twitter
• Carly for President