Christie Roberts is the DSCC Executive Director, coming off of the first cycle since 1962 when Senate Democrats expanded their majority while holding the White House...during a cycle when many observers assumed a "red wave" was imminent. Christie talks her path to politics, the importance of learning her craft in Montana politics, and managing Jon Tester's 2018 re-election. And, of course, going deep on all things 2022 Senate races...her original theory of the case of how to succeed in a tough cycle, how the DSCC tried to mold the GOP primary fields, the impact of the Dobbs' decision, the big difference in Dem vs GOP fundraising, and the message & strategic decisions that led to Democrats virtually running the table in the closest Senate races.
IN THIS EPISODE…
The well-known political figure Christie partnered with to help win an 8th grade election…
The first campaign Christie ever worked…
Christie talks how her background in political research prepped her to run big campaigns and orgs…
Christie talks managing Tester 2018 and what makes him a different type of political figure…
Christie’s theory on why Montana produces so many talented Democratic operatives…
Christie on the political tenacity of Chuck Schumer…
Christie talks the leadership of DSCC Chair Gary Peters…
Christie lays out the DSCC’s initial theory-of-the-case as to how to hold the majority…
Christie talks how the DSCC tried to dissuade GOP Govs Sununu and Ducey from running for Senate…
Christie talks the “pivotal impact” of the Dobbs Supreme Court decision…
Christie's expectations heading into Election Day…
Christie on the GOP spin that Colorado and Washington were in play…
The role that competitive losses in North Carolina and Ohio played in protecting the Democratic majority...
Christie gets under the hood of the critical Democratic candidate fundraising advantages…
Christie talks how Catherine Cortez Masto pulled off the cycle’s closest Senate victory…
Christie's take on how the Georgia runoff win in 2022 was different than in 2021…
Christie's surprising similarities between Raphael Warnock and Jon Tester…
Christie on some of the smart strategic decisions by the NRSC…
Christie on how the “friction” between the NRSC and McConnell PACs likely hurt GOP candidates…
Her lessons from 2022 to take to the 2024 cycle…
What might surprise people about the day-to-day role running the DSCC…
AND….300 clips a day, Samuel Alito, Tom Allen, Cheri Beasley, boot camps, Campaign Corps, Jay Carson, the Clinton Foundation, Susan Collins, dirt farmers, EMILYs List, earned media oxygen, Ebenezer Baptist Church, English Lit, entering field data at 11PM, flip phones, free advice, hands in the dirt, Maggie Hassan, hybrid ads, Mark Kelly, Brian Kemp, knife fights, red waves, Matt Rosendale, Tim Ryan, shooting distance, [solidcore], strong visibility gains, Sharla Tester, true alignment, JD Vance, Herschel Walker, Dave Wasserman, workhorses & more