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Ohio Democratic Party Staffer Dies

A longtime staffer at the Ohio Democratic Party, David Duffey, died on Dec. 4.

“Without reservation, David dedicated both his personal and professional life to furthering our Democratic values each and every day,” Ohio Democratic Chairman Chris Redfern said in an email to party supporters.

Duffey spent 25 years at the state party as director of operations. He grew up in Silver Lake, a town outside Akron, according to a state party release. The cause of death was not immediately available, but he was active on Twitter on Dec. 3.

Shumlin Re-Elected as DGA Chairman

Democratic Governors Association Chairman Peter Shumlin won re-election on Monday. The Vermont governor was uncontested in his bid at the group’s annual meeting in Washington, D.C.

“In 2014, we will build on that momentum and communicate how Republican governors across the country have pursued a failed economic philosophy that rewards the wealthiest at the expense of the middle class and critical investments in education,” Shumlin said in a statement.

Executive Director Colm O’Comartun will continue in his role, but the DGA did elect a new slate of officers. The new vice-chairman is New Hampshire Gov. Maggie Hassan, the finance chairman is Washington Gov. Jay Inslee and the chairman of Governor’s Cabinet is Montana Gov. Steve Bullock

Albrecht to Launch Digital Firm

Veteran Iowa GOP operative Tim Albrecht will run a new data and digital marketing firm Redwave Digital, as a division of Redwave Communications.

Most recently, Albrecht served as spokesman for Iowa Gov. Terry E. Branstad, a Republican. Albrecht has also worked on several state and presidential campaigns in the Hawkeye State.

“This is a start-up company in the truest sense, yet being launched out of an established organization like Redwave Communications, allows it to bring a wealth of experienced individuals immediately to the table as we begin charting our course in the data and digital fields,” Albrecht said in a statement.

Indiana GOP Spokesman Lands Gig

Former Indiana Republican Party spokesman Pete Seat joined Hathaway Strategies last week. Seat will be a project manager for the Indianapolis-based firm.

Seat is a former deputy assistant press secretary to President George W. Bush and worked on Republican Sen. Dan Coats’ 2010 campaign.

West Virginia Democratic Executive Director Exits the Party

West Virginia Democratic Party Executive Director Jacob Winowich is leaving his position early next year, per The Associated Press.

State Democratic Chairman Larry Puccio named Winowich to the position less than a year ago. He replaced Derek Scarbro in March. Scarbro now works on former state Democratic Party Chairman Nick Casey’s bid for the open 2nd District.

Democratic Polling Firm Redesigns Website

Almost a year after Anzalone Liszt Research and Grove Insight merged, the new firm announced in an email the company has redesigned its website.

The makeover includes a page of the company’s publicly released polling memos.

Ready for Hillary Hires Again

California Democratic operative Christopher Guerrero has joined Ready for Hillary as its new Latino Americans director.

Guerrero worked on Clinton’s 2008 presidential campaign in California, Iowa, Nevada and Minnesota, per a news release. The Golden State native has spent the years since that race in California politics, at the state party, in Los Angeles municipal politics and in state Speaker John A. Pérez’s office.

Clinton supporters started the Ready for Hillary super PAC early this year. Their mission is to build a campaign infrastructure if the former secretary of State runs for president in 2016. It is not affiliated with Clinton.

Mac Strategies Group Expands Into Lobbying

David Vite joined Mac Strategies Group, an Illinois-based public affairs and public relations firm, as senior counselor.

He will launch the firm’s lobbying practice, “offering strategic governmental affairs counsel to clients seeking to navigate Springfield and the city of Chicago,” according to a news release.

Strategies 360 Launches New Arm

Strategies 360 announced last week that it is creating a “new competitive intelligence division” to its firm.

Political consultant Benjamin Jones will lead the new arm that “will provide competitive intelligence and issue-based research services to corporations, nonprofits, and campaigns throughout the country,” according to a company news release.

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