Today, Biden for President announced key staff hires in Wisconsin, including former staff for Senator Tammy Baldwin, Governor Tony Evers, and Congresswoman Gwen Moore. Today’s hires reflect the diversity of the state and the campaign’s commitment to amplifying the voices of Wisconsinites, both urban and rural.
Danielle Melfi, Wisconsin State Director
Melfi most recently served in Governor Evers’ administration as the Assistant Secretary for the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families. She was the Director of Political Engagement for Senator Tammy Baldwin’s 2018 campaign and the Early Vote Director for the 2016 Wisconsin Coordinated Campaign.
Scott Spector, Wisconsin Senior Advisor
Scott Spector has more than two decades of experience working with nonprofits and running campaigns in Wisconsin and across the country. In 2018, Scott managed Senator Tammy Baldwin’s 10 point reelection campaign, one of the largest margins of victory in Wisconsin in the past 20 years. Prior to that Scott served as the Executive Director of Wisconsin Progress, a nonprofit candidate recruitment and training organization. Over his five years running the organization, Wisconsin Progress recruited and trained hundreds of candidates for local and state legislative office in every corner of the state. Scott has managed some of the largest and most successful Get Out the Vote efforts in Wisconsin.
Garren Randolph, Wisconsin Deputy State Director
Randolph will be joining the Biden team from the Democratic Party of Wisconsin where he currently serves as the Political Director. He previously served as Political Director for Governor Tony Evers, and the campaign manager for Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley and Milwaukee County Sheriff Earnell Lucas.
Shirley Ellis, Wisconsin Strategic Advisor
Following the Democratic National Convention, Shirley Ellis will serve as Strategic Advisor. Shirley is a highly respected political operative in Milwaukee having worked for Congresswoman Gwen Moore for nearly 3 decades. She oversees Rep. Moore’s district staff and operations. She brings her deep political network experience and management skills to the team. Ellis will be joining the Biden team upon completion of the Democratic Convention in Milwaukee, where she currently serves as an advisor for the DNCC.
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Top Tammy Baldwin aides to lead Joe Biden campaign in Wisconsin
Two top political aides to U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin will help guide Joe Biden’s presidential campaign in Wisconsin.
Scott Spector was named senior adviser and Danielle Melfi was selected as state director, the Biden campaign announced early Wednesday.
Spector and Melfi both worked on Baldwin’s 2018 campaign when she easily won re-election.
“I couldn’t be more excited to see Vice President Biden’s campaign team comprised of some of the best Democratic talent Wisconsin has to offer,” Baldwin said in a statement released by the campaign. “Scott Spector and Danielle Melfi led my 10-point re-election campaign and their unparalleled knowledge of the Badger State is exactly what the Vice President needs to win Wisconsin in November.”
Spector previously served for five years as executive director of Wisconsin Progress, a nonprofit candidate recruitment and training organization. He was also a campaign adviser to Appeals Court Judge Lisa Neubauer, who in 2019 lost a close race for state Supreme Court to Justice Brian Hagedorn.
Melfi worked in the administration of Gov. Tony Evers as assistant secretary for the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families.
Biden’s team announced two other key hires: Garren Randolph as deputy state director and Shirley Ellis as a strategic adviser.
Randolph, political director of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, was political director for Evers in 2018, and the campaign manager for Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley and Milwaukee County Sheriff Earnell Lucas.
Ellis is a longtime political aide to U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore, D-Milwaukee. She’ll join the Biden campaign after the Democratic National Convention, where she currently serves as a senior adviser.
The campaign also announced its headquarters will be based in Milwaukee.
