Ryan Rudominer, the former national press secretary at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, has joined the Edison Electric Institute as executive director of communications.

“Ryan is an innovative thinker who has the right combination of experience, drive and leadership savvy to craft and execute strategies and tactics that will help our industry define the issues,” EEI Senior Vice President Brian Wolff said in a statement.

After spending the 2008 and 2010 election cycles at the DCCC, Rudominer provided strategy advice to corporate and issue advocacy clients at New Partners Consulting. Before joining the DCCC, Rudominer served as press secretary for Rep. Steve Israel (D-N.Y.), who now chairs the committee, and as communications director for former Rep. Joe Sestak (D-Pa.).

Political Energy

Mike Duncan, the former chairman of the Republican National Committee, was named president and CEO of the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity.

Duncan, who starts next month, is currently the chairman of the board of American Crossroads, a Republican-aligned super PAC supporting candidates for Congress and the White House. He will replace Steve Miller, who is retiring from ACCCE after 17 years.

Department of Ed

Ed Espinoza, who moved to Austin, Texas, last year to start his own Democratic consulting shop, has signed on as campaign manager for former Rep. Nick Lampson (D-Texas).

Espinoza served as the Democratic National Committee western states director during the 2010 cycle, when he ran the Latino get-out-the-vote program for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s (D-Nev.) re-election. The California native has previously worked on campaigns for Golden State Democrats Jane Harman, who resigned from the House last year, and Rep. Lois Capps.

Lampson, a DCCC Red-to-Blue candidate, faces an uphill climb back to Congress in the open 14th district against state Rep. Randy Weber (R).

All Hail Snail Mail

The U.S. Postal Service pushed the advantages of direct mail in a recent press release aimed at campaigns and consulting firms.

“Political campaign marketers and managers will find that if used properly, direct mail can be one of the most cost-effective and targeted tools to reach potential voters,” the release stated.

The Postal Service offered a 2 percent postage discount until the end of August for mail that includes a QR code that can be scanned by mobile devices. It also started a program called Every Door Direct Mail that allows campaigns to blanket a particular ZIP code or neighborhood for less than 15 cents per piece and without the need for individual addresses.

“With the new interactive technologies available to marketers, including QR codes, messages are easily customized for specific audiences thereby increasing the chances of positive engagement,” said Cliff Rucker, the Postal Service’s vice president of sales.

Pulte Joins QGA

QGA Public Affairs has hired Lauren Pulte as a communications associate.

Pulte is a former video manager and producer for Politico’s television broadcasts and producer for C-SPAN’s morning program, “Washington Journal.”

“Lauren has packed an amazing amount of great experience in a relatively short-time period,” QGA president John Feehery said in a statement. “Her talents and expertise will prove to be invaluable as we continue to develop the best boutique public affairs team in town.”

North Dakota Nix

The North Dakota Republican Party has hired Anna Nix as communications director.

Nix brings Capitol Hill and campaign experience, including most recently serving as communications director for former Sen. George LeMieux’s (R-Fla.) Senate campaign. The state features a competitive open-seat Senate race between Rep. Rick Berg (R) and former state Attorney General Heidi Heitkamp (D).

“With Anna on our team, we will effectively communicate our message of smaller government and fiscal responsibility and ensure Republican victories throughout North Dakota,” state party Executive Director Anthony Reedy said in a statement.

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