- Pritzker Fellows
- Current Fellows
- Matt Gorman
Matt Gorman
Former Senior Communications Advisor, Tim Scott for America & Communications Director for the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC)
Matt Gorman has advised presidential candidates, members of Congress, and Fortune 50 companies on communications and messaging. He is currently a Vice President at Targeted Victory, a Washington D.C.-based public affairs and digital marketing firm.
A veteran of three presidential campaigns, he most recently served as a senior advisor to Tim Scott for America. Before that, he was the Communications Director for the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), rapid response director and national spokesman for Jeb Bush’s 2016 presidential campaign, and an aide to Mitt Romney’s 2012 campaign. Gorman also worked for the world’s largest biotech trade association (BIO), helping lead several healthcare advocacy campaigns.
Gorman regularly appears as an analyst on network and cable news programs. A native of Torrington, Connecticut, he is a graduate of Stonehill College and resides in Washington, DC.
Seminars
“Controlling the Message: How Candidates & Their Staff Shape the Narrative, What Works & What Doesn’t”
Behind every candidate are key staffers who shape the themes and messages; pick out the ties and pins; research policy positions and dole out opposition research; prep their boss for debates, press conferences, donor calls and clean up when things go terribly wrong. Winter IOP Pritzker Fellow Matt Gorman has served in numerous roles in Republican politics, most recently as a senior advisor and spokesman for Senator Tim Scott during his White House run. Matt will give a comprehensive, spirited behind the scenes look at what it means to be a campaign communicator in today’s political landscape.
What does it mean to wake up each day working toward a message, helping your candidate make news on their terms - all while engaging with the press and madly trying to avoid pitfalls. Is it like The West Wing? Veep? Somewhere in between?
In this first seminar, Matt will tell you about his background, what led him to his various roles in Republican politics, how communications has changed over the last decade and why it’s something everyone thinks they’re an expert in, but few people actually are. He’ll be joined by Meredith Kelly, Matt’s former counterpart at the DCCC and Communications Director for Kirsten Gillibrand’s presidential campaign.
Special Guest (via Zoom): Meredith Kelly, former DCCC & Gillibrand for President Communications Director