Pro Politics with Zac McCrary

Guy Cecil, Outgoing Chair of Priorities USA

March 21, 2023 Zac McCrary
Pro Politics with Zac McCrary
Guy Cecil, Outgoing Chair of Priorities USA
Show Notes

Guy Cecil recently announced his plans to step down as Chair of Priorities USA - the major Democratic super PAC - after being at the helm for 8 years. In this conversation, he talks his time in the ministry before moving to politics…learning important political lessons amid personal tumult and tragedy…working with big personalities like Chuck Schumer, Harry Reid, and Fritz Hollings…running the DSCC…four cycles helping win elections and innovate campaign strategy at Priorities…plus ideas he’s kicking around in considering his next professional chapter.

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IN THIS EPISODE

Guy grows up in a blue-collar family in South Florida…


Guy’s time as a Baptist minister before moving into politics…


The tumultuous personal time that led Guy to work in politics…


Guy talks the role of faith in his political career and how Democrats can better connect with people of faith…


Guy’s take on why working in political field is great preparation for a thriving career in politics…


Guy’s memories as a junior organizer working for South Carolina Senator Fritz Hollings…


Guy witnesses some of the positive side of campaign politics amid personal tragedy…


Guy remembers being the Field Director on Mel Carnahan’s tragic 2000 US Senate race…


Why running the DSCC was his favorite job in politics…


Guy tells some of his favorite Harry Reid and Chuck Schumer stories…


The underrated political acumen of Senator Michael Bennet…


Guy’s hindsight on the 2016 Clinton presidential campaign…


Guy talks his work at Priorities USA over 4 cycles + the two things he’s most proud of…


How Guy improved his skill set around raising money…


Guy’s passion for helping Democratic messaging move past caricaturizing the electorate…


How Guy is thinking about his next professional chapter…


Guy’s analysis on what makes an effective campaign manager…


The advice Guy gives those seeking to thrive in politics…

 

AND $5M asks, Joyce Aboussie, the Baptist Student Union, bedwetters, Joe Biden, book worms, Sherrod Brown, Danielle Butterfield, Anne Caprara, Jean Carnahan, Jimmy Carter, Lawton Chiles, Bill Clinton, Color of Change, complete enigmas, cultural Christians, Ron DeSantis, Joe Donnelly, Quentin Fulks, fully-formed human beings, G-D skunks, Geoff Garin, Gator football, Julie Gibson, Peter Gomes, Al Gore, Franklin Graham, Helly Hansen, Hialeah, Jim Hodges, Bob Inglis, Kim Kauffman, the Keane family, Martin Luther King, LCV, marine mechanics, Clair McCaskill, mindless television, Robby Mook, Patty Murray, Jen O’Malley Dillon, Barack Obama, the opposite of Miami, John Podesta, JB Pritzker, The Real Housewives, the Reitz Union, relentless human beings, Christie Roberts, Craig Schirmer, Josh Shapiro, Saul Shorr, Structure, terrible old flip phones, Jon Tester, Thursday afternoon movies, Donald Trump, the two most dreaded two words on campaigns, Type A people, walking around like Mother Theresa, white Catholic women in Wisconsin, Gretchen Whitmer, wiki-leaks…& more!