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Today, DCCC Chair Suzan DelBene announced key additions to the DCCC’s 2024 team.
Joining the team:
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Mariafernanda “Marifer” Zacarias, National Engagement Director
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Sam Barrett, Independent Expenditure Director
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Viet Shelton, National Press Secretary
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Nebeyatt Betre, Deputy Communications Director
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Camille Torres, Incumbent Protection Director
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Andrea Nemecek, National Organizing Director
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Maria Bilbao, Grassroots Fundraising Director
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Nisha Desai, Digital Fundraising Director
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Cassie Saenz, Direct Marketing Director
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Robert Dougherty, Policy Director
“I’m thrilled to welcome this group of talented, diverse staff to the DCCC. I know this battle-tested team has what it takes to win back the Majority in 2024 so that Democrats can continue fighting For the People,” said DCCC Chair Suzan DelBene. “We’ve seen the chaos and dysfunction that comes from Republicans holding the majority – and we’re lucky these individuals are joining an already top-notch team to help us flip the House next November.”
Mariafernanda Zacarias, National Engagement Director
Mariafernanda “Marifer” Zacarias returns to the DCCC as the National Engagement Director overseeing constituency engagement and outreach strategy. Most recently, she was the Deputy Director for the White House Hispanic Initiative. In 2022, she was the Senior Advisor for Latino Engagement at the DCCC, where she led a successful culturally-competent persuasion paid media program targeting Latino voters and worked with national stakeholders and surrogates. She is a For Our Future, Equis, Wondros, PPFA, and NWLC alum.
Sam Barrett, Independent Expenditure Director
Sam has been on Democratic campaigns for the better part of two decades. He will serve as the DCCC Independent Expenditures director this cycle. He is coming off managing Steve Sisolak’s re-election campaign in Nevada last year. This is Sam’s second stint at the DCCC; he was the 2020 Midwest Political Director and before that led campaigns in Illinois, Nebraska, Virginia, and Missouri.
Viet Shelton, National Press Secretary
Viet Shelton was most recently the Director of Corporate Communications at Zillow. Prior to that, Viet has served in the administrations of two Seattle Mayors, Governor Chris Gegoire, and was Communications Director for Congresswoman Suzan DelBene in her first term. Viet has a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Washington and is a Seattle native.
Nebeyatt Betre, Deputy Communications Director
Nebeyatt Betre has been with the DCCC since 2021, originally serving as the Deputy National Press Secretary, and most recently serving as a Regional Press Secretary where she provided communications and earned media support to 12 races across the battlefield. Prior to joining the DCCC, Betre worked for several years in Senator Tim Kaine’s official press office. She is a Texas native and a daughter of Ethiopian refugees.
Camille Torres, Incumbent Protection Director
Camille Torres returns to the DCCC to serve as the Incumbent Protection Director. Most recently, she managed Rep. Josh Harder’s successful re-election campaign. Anchored by the most diverse city in America, Camille managed a multi-pronged constituency outreach program to secure a decisive win for the Congressman. Prior to that, she managed a successful re-election race for the Virginia House of Delegates. She is also a proud alum of the Blue Leadership Collaborative program.
Andrea Nemecek, National Organizing Director
Andrea joins the DCCC after leading the 2022 New Hampshire Democratic Party Coordinated Campaign, which re-elected US Senator Maggie Hassan, Reps. Chris Pappas and Annie Kuster, and Democrats up and down the ticket. She was the Get Out the Vote Director for the Arizona Democratic Party during the 2020 cycle, where she designed and implemented the largest voter mobilization program in Arizona history. Prior to that, Andrea trained 80 organizing staffers as the Training Director for the Arizona Democratic Party 2018 Coordinated Campaign, which successfully flipped a Senate seat blue in Arizona for the first time since the 1970s.
Maria Bilbao, Grassroots Fundraising Director
Maria Bilbao joins the DCCC’s senior leadership team as Grassroots Fundraising Director overseeing all direct marketing and national digital fundraising programs. She has been with the DCCC since 2020, originally serving on the committee’s independent expenditure. Most recently in 2022, she served as Deputy Digital Fundraising Director helping break DCCC all-time online fundraising records. Maria is a Florida native of Mexican descent.
Nisha Desai, Digital Fundraising Director
Nisha Desai joins the DCCC as the Digital Fundraising Director, overseeing all aspects of the committee’s national online fundraising program. Most recently, she was the Email Director at the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee where she helped lead efforts to build the committee’s grassroots programming during the 2022 cycle. During the 2020 and 2018 cycles, she ran large-scale online fundraising programs for End Citizens United, Let America Vote, the Congressional Progressive Caucus PAC, and more at Mothership Strategies.
Cassie Saenz, Direct Marketing Director
Cassie Saenz serves as the DCCC’s Direct Marketing Director, overseeing the committee’s direct mail and telemarketing fundraising programs. In 2022, she served as the Deputy Director of Direct Marketing and developed the committee’s direct mail campaign services program. She is an EMILY’s List, Julián for the Future, and CCAH alum.
Robert Dougherty, Policy Director
Robert joins the DCCC after 10 years working on Capitol Hill for both Frontline and senior Members of the Democratic Caucus. Most recently he served as Chief of Staff for Rep. Pat Ryan, and prior to that spent 4 years as a Frontline Legislative Director working for Reps. Delgado and Brindisi. In these roles he has helped Democratic Members secure strategic legislative victories and deliver meaningful results for the people in their districts.
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