- Pritzker Fellows
- Former Fellows
- Jeff Larson
Jeff Larson
Republican Political Consultant
Fall 2023 Pritzker Fellow
Seminar Series: “Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Primaries, Caucuses, Conventions & the 2024 Nominating Process for President”
A high energy, fiscally conscious, and goal-driven leader, Jeff Larson approaches each business and political opportunity with a data driven approach for innovation, creative problem-solving, and a collaborative management style. His proven ability to build and lead teams focuses on continuous and open communication, accountable and clear expectations, agreed upon outcomes and quantifiable results.
Larson is currently the CEO of the Roosevelt Group, a political and public affairs company. He served as the Director of the NRSC independent expenditure committee in 2019 and 2020. The Committee raised and spent $90 million dollars on behalf of Republicans running for the US Senate.
He served as a Senior Advisor to the 2017 Presidential Inaugural Committee. Having tapped Larson as CEO of the 2016 Republican National Convention, RNC Chairman Reince Priebus also asked Larson to remain a Senior Advisor to the RNC to help provide advice on the strategic and political decisions facing the Committee in the 2016 election season.
In 2015, Larson was named the CEO for the 2016 Republican National Convention. Larson controlled all aspects of designing, organizing and implementing the Convention in Cleveland, Ohio. One of the largest international media events, Larson managed a combined budget of $71 million dollars, 130 staff, 2,000 volunteers and over 15,000 members of the media. Highlights and challenges included:
- Over 30 million viewers watched on TV and tens of millions more on-line.
In 2013, Larson was asked by the leadership of the National Republican Senatorial Committee to head the independent expenditure arm of the NRSC. Republicans had not held the majority in the Senate since 2007 and in 2014 needed six seats to retake the majority.
- With a budget of approximately $55 million and a staff of three, Larson and his team helped defeat five incumbent US Senators on their way to gaining nine US Senate seats.
- In what is now standard procedure, Larson created a unique team of outside pollsters and media and digital firms to develop a strategic approach to each race. Larson broke new ground by testing themes and messages utilizing traditional and emerging technologies. Working within the budget, Larson considered the data and carefully allocated and reallocated critical resources throughout the cycle.
In February of 2011, Larson was asked to assume the position of Chief of Staff of the Republican National Committee, led by Chairman Reince Priebus. Larson and Chairman Priebus inherited a $25 million debt on day one, unsure if they would be able to make payroll that first week. Responsible for budgeting, resource allocation and hiring, Larson and the Committee cut its debt and had $7 million in the bank after just six months.
- Larson built a highly motivated, mission driven staff that succeeded in raising nearly $400 million, more than ever had been raised before.
With the Republican National Convention a year away, key leaders of the Convention asked Larson, in 2007, to take over leadership of the Minneapolis St. Paul 2008 Host Committee when it was in turmoil.
- Larson led the effort to raise $58 million to accommodate a first-class convention.
With two other partners, Larson founded FLS Connect in April of 1999 with a staff of seven. As a Managing Partner, Jeff and his partners collaboratively built FLS Connect into a premier, $30 million multi-faceted political business with over 75 full time and 300 part-time employees in seven states.
- Having co-founded one of the top telephone fundraising companies in America, Larson championed the development of numerous innovations for political groups, including phone from home calling services, database management products, and a mobile mapping program.
- FLS was the leader in the industry for developing and implementing Get out the Vote campaigns and designing door to door grassroots efforts.
- FLS developed the industry leading data and analytics programs for the Republican Party
In his early years, Larson lent his innovative analytical skills to several positions, including: Sales Executive, Strategic Telecommunications • Regional Political Director, Bush/Quayle Re-Election Campaign and Republican National Committee • Winning Campaign Manager, North Dakota Governor Al Olson • Field Representative, National Republican Congressional Committee • Executive Director, Delaware Republican Party.
Larson serves on the Board of the American Action Network, and Congressional Leadership Network. He also serves on the Board of bi partisan group, Defending Digital Campaigns. He was a senior advisor for Norm Coleman’s Senate election in 2002, his re-election effort in 2008, as well as the 2009 recount.
Seminars
“Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Primaries, Caucuses, Conventions & the 2024 Nominating Process for President”
Presidential nominating conventions have been part of American Democracy since 1832 and are the only way in which candidates for the Republican and Democrat parties can get on the General Election Ballot. In addition to nominating candidates, the Delegates to the National Convention set the party Platform and rules. Next summer, Chicago - the site of 25 prior conventions, the most of any city - will serve as host city for the Democrats, while the Republican Convention will be held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin - the first true such gatherings since the pandemic.
Jeff Larson - who has been closely involved in Republican campaigns for three decades - was the CEO for the 2016 Republican National Convention. In that role, he controlled all aspects of designing, organizing and implementing the $71 million dollar event and the 130 staff, 2,000 volunteers and over 15,000 members of the media who flocked to Cleveland that year.
Come each week to hear Jeff explain every aspect of conventions - from the historic to the technical to the quirky - and unpack the costs, schedules, formalities, rules, state pride and egos that go into these multi-million dollar affairs, which serve to define each of the parties' themes, priorities and standard bearer. Find out what a brokered convention actually means, and expect a side dish on money and spending.
Jeff will spend 15-20 minutes of each seminar digesting the events of the prior week that impact the Republican nominating process and general election.
Why do we have caucuses and primaries? In this seminar, Jeff will explain the purpose and function of the nominating process, with war stories from the past.
The timeline and process for each party’s nominating Conventions have changed over the history of our country. This year the Democrats have changed the order of the “early states, and Iowa, miffed and unbowed, moved its caucus to start in January to jump-start the entire process. (We will recap why Iowa was a mess for them.) We will look at the diminishing impact of the Iowa Caucuses, the changes New Hampshire Republicans seek to attract participating independents and how these changes will impact the candidates and campaigns. We will discuss the difference between “proportional” vs “winner take all” delegate counts and the pros and cons of each. Students will be asked to share their views on the ideal allocation process and formula.
In addition to nominating the candidates for each party, the convention delegates also play a large role in developing party platforms and setting rules. What is the impact of the party platforms? What are the differences between the parties as they adopt rules? Students will be encouraged to write a party platform and discuss the impact it could have on the election.
Conventions also raise and spend tens of millions of dollars. Where does it go? Is it worth it? Why so much? What are the funding sources? Hundreds of people work for months on a four-day convention. What goes into the “show” and what are the challenges?
Special Guest: Ben Key, former Executive Director of the RNC Platform Committee (2012 & 2016)
Even in 2016, Donald J. Trump shook up the traditions of GOP conventions. He was rebuffed in some respects - like his request to have the boxing promoter Don King speak instead of traditional politicians - yet he changed the rules of the game; indeed in 2020 there were no rules at all. If Trump is the nominee again, what could that mean for the Republican convention next year, given his legal troubles and usual profile. If he ends up being otherwise engaged, where do his delegates go? What might a different nominee keep or return to the process? Additionally, we will have had at least two debates by this point, a good spark for a discussion on the other GOP candidate’s strengths and where they may be looking for the delegate during the selection process.
Special Guest: Matt Rhoades, Co-CEO of CGCN Group, Campaign Manager for Mitt Romney’s 2012 Presidential Campaign
It used to be that television networks, print media, and radio covered the convention. Now with streaming, blogs, and digital channels, what has been the impact and where will it go in the future? There has been a significant drop in viewership on TV in the past several conventions. Has the on-line audience made up the difference?
Special Guest: Rick Klein, Journalist & Political Director for ABC News
In 2010 a Supreme Court ruling referred to as Citizens United changed the way US political campaigns are funded. In 2020 $14 billion was spent on Federal election campaigns in the US, more than double what was spent in 2016. Jeff was a senior advisor to the 2017 Presidential Inaugural Committee and director of the The National Republican Senate Committee independent expenditure committee, which raised $90 million dollars on behalf of Republicans running for the Senate. His extensive background in this space he gives him unique insights as we examine the various types of organizations that exist and what each one can and cannot do and how they report their money or how they are not required to report their contributions and how that impacts campaigns.
Special Guest: Megan Sowards Newston, Partner at Jones Day Law Firm, former General Counsel for Governor Jeb Bush's 2016 Presidential Campaign, the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) & former Deputy General Counsel for Mitt Romney’s 2012 Presidential Campaign
In 2024 all 435 House Members will be up for election and 34 US Senate races. There are 20 Democrat seats for election, 3 seats held by independents who currently caucus with the Democrats, and 11 Republicans, including a special election in Nebraska. We will look at where the most competitive seats will be and how the two Parties are approaching the 2024 General election.
Special Guests: Ward Baker, Founder & President of Baker Group Strategies & former Executive Director of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), and Brad Komar, Independent Expenditure Director at House Majority PAC
There have been many memorable events at conventions that have changed the impact of the events themselves but also propelled speakers to become significant leaders or even future Presidents because of their stand-out roles. We will also look at how conventions have impacted the general election and the battleground states that will be in play in the next battle for the White House. Bonus track: the history of third-party spoilers and how they might show up in 2024.
Special Guest: Karl Rove, former Deputy Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor to President George W. Bush