Institute of Politics

Gerardo Bonilla Chavez

Former Chief of Staff for U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

Gerardo Bonilla Chavez is the former Chief of Staff for Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14). Gerardo has over a decade of public service and campaign experience; before his tenure as Chief of Staff to Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez, he served in senior roles in both the House and Senate. He previously was a political appointee during the Obama Administration at the Department of Commerce. Beyond his time at the federal government, Gerardo has also worked at the municipal and state level.  

He holds a Masters in Public Policy degree with a concentration in advanced policy analysis from the University Of Minnesota - Humphrey Institute Of Public Affairs and a Bachelors of Arts in Political Science with minor in Global Studies from the University of Minnesota. He is a recipient of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute Public Policy Fellowship (‘11-‘12) and recipient of the multiple awards. 

Seminars

“From Periphery to Power: The Remarkable Rise of the Progressive Movement in America, a Deep Look At Political & Legislative Lessons on Capitol Hill”

Until last month, Gerardo Bonilla Chavez was the Chief of Staff for New York Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14). The son of migrant farmworkers from Mexico, Bonilla Chavez has had a lifelong interest and work experience in progressive ecosystems and grassroots movements. After a career that spanned local and federal roles, he found himself in a rare front row seat to some of the nation’s biggest political and policy battles at the side of one of the most high-profile members of Congress. In winter quarter, Gerardo will walk us through how progressives went from long shot candidates to the halls of Congress; in the spring, he will provide interactive workshops that illuminate how the sausage is made or destroyed.

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