Election Tech: Follow the strategists running presidential digital campaigns

UPDATED 12/21/15

Twitter is firmly lodged in the center of media and politics. Though the company has stumbled several times over the past decade, it has also remained the social web's connective sinew. As social media services evolved and became mainstream, then filled niches, one of Twitter's many alcoves has been news and politics.

Over the next several weeks TechRepublic will publish a series of posts that explore how technological innovation can lead to competitive advantage in politics and campaigns.

This is a non-partisan, cursory list of interesting and influential presidential campaign staffers, intended to introduce readers to the people who help shape digital political strategy. Our list highlights a key member of each campaign staff, their Twitter handle, and a status update that encapsulates the individual's role in the campaign.

We'd appreciate your feedback and ideas about how technology and politics intersect in the comments below.

Bush (R)

• Follow: Kevin Zambrano
• Role: Digital Strategist
• Key Tweet: https://twitter.com/KevinZambrano4/status/621697323484192768

• Follow: Tim Miller
• Role: Communications Director
• Key Tweet: https://twitter.com/Timodc/status/6775293704252293...

HQ snapchat filter game $$$ pic.twitter.com/7VGpHcZc56

— Tim Miller (@Timodc) December 17, 2015

Carson (R)

• Follow: Mike Murray
• Role: Senior Advisor/Grassroots Fundraising
• Key Tweet: https://twitter.com/Mike_Murray_/status/595268298369081344

• Follow: Deana Bass
• Role: Press Secretary
• Key Tweet: https://twitter.com/deana_bass/status/654320289015271424

@RealBenCarson Speaking @ YPO meeting in Charlotte pic.twitter.com/zvq16Qpk6E

— Deana Bass (@deana_bass) October 14, 2015

Christie (R)

• Follow: Lauren Fritts
• Role: Digital Director
• Key Tweet: https://twitter.com/laurenfritts/status/662374923437023232

• Follow: Maria Comella
• Role: Chief Messaging Officer
• Key Tweet: https://twitter.com/macnyc/status/621326066020413441

@LarryHogan becomes the second gov to endorse @ChrisChristie for president. pic.twitter.com/Cz2bx4Ciip

— Maria Comella (@macnyc) July 15, 2015

Clinton (D)

• Follow: Katie Dowd
• Role: Digital Director
• Key Tweet: https://twitter.com/katiewdowd/status/601412930115137539

• Follow: Stephanie Hannon
• Role: Campaign CTO
• Key Tweet: https://twitter.com/twephanie/status/614500201777233920

Maximum beardiness descends on HFA. Thanks for gems of wisdom. @harper @dylanr pic.twitter.com/J0mi1KBEFu

— Stephanie Hannon (@twephanie) June 26, 2015

Cruz (R)

• Follow: Chris Wilson
• Role: Director of Research and Analytics
• Key Tweet: https://twitter.com/WilsonWPA/status/669171068532166656

• Follow: Josh Perry
• Role: Digital Director
• Key Tweet: https://twitter.com/MrJoshPerry/status/6630354448...

. @tedcruz meets the press Lubbock style at #TFRW2015 pic.twitter.com/jMM5mQFuxm

— Josh Perry (@MrJoshPerry)

November 7, 2015

Fiorina (R)

• Follow: Brandon Howell
• Role: Social Media/War Room Director
• Key Tweet: https://twitter.com/BrandonDHowell/status/656892218406510592

• Follow: Anna Epstein
• Role: Press Secretary
• Key Tweet: https://twitter.com/annadepstein/status/662327236566077441

. @CarlyFiorina files for the NH primary in Concord today #fitn #Carly2016 #nhpolitics pic.twitter.com/YoYBlJqzdm

— Anna Epstein (@annadepstein) November 5, 2015

Graham (R)

• Follow: Brittany Bramell
• Role: Communications Director
• Key Tweet: https://twitter.com/BrittBramell/status/627571075619135488

• Follow: Christian Ferry
• Role: Campaign Manager
• Key Tweet: https://twitter.com/christianwferry/status/659169466966654976

"When I'm President, we're going to drink more in Washington." @LindseyGrahamSC tending bar in Boulder pic.twitter.com/wYjrRYFENK

— Christian Ferry (@christianwferry) October 28, 2015

Huckabee (R)

• Follow: Alice Stewart
• Role: Communications Director
• Key Tweet: https://twitter.com/alicetweet/status/664259145676255232

• Follow: Hogan Gidley
• Role: Senior Communications Advisor
• Key Tweet: https://twitter.com/JHoganGidley/status/676437432955342848

Thanks to @GovMikeHuckabee Iowa staff for making me a Christmas stocking at the campaign headquarters. #campaignlife pic.twitter.com/dpA0nz58e6

— J. Hogan Gidley (@JHoganGidley) December 14, 2015

Kasich (R)

• Follow: Kevin Bingle
• Role: Digital Director
• Key Tweet: https://twitter.com/KevinBingle/status/667348281899528192

• Follow: Chris Schrimpf
• Role: Communications Director
• Key Tweet: https://twitter.com/chrisschrimpf/status/675434773297373184

#fitn politics. Overflow crowd for meet & greet. Moved it outside to enjoy the unusually warm weather pic.twitter.com/QOjzFhlvZG

— chris schrimpf (@chrisschrimpf) December 11, 2015

O'Malley (D)

• Follow: Bill Hyers
• Role: Strategist
• Key Tweet: https://twitter.com/HyersBill/status/665755946212200448

• Follow: Madeleine Perry
• Role: Digital Director
• Key Tweet: https://twitter.com/ellismads/status/664297804274278400

Subtle and amazing. RT @brianstelter: pic.twitter.com/SaJP5tTCnp

— Madeleine P. Ellis (@ellismads) November 11, 2015

Paul (R)

• Follow: Vincent Harris
• Role: Chief Digital Strategist
• Key Tweet: https://twitter.com/mktwrobs/status/664487764017045504

• Follow: Sergio Gor
• Role: Communications Director
• Key Tweet: https://twitter.com/SergioGor/status/659723445454815232

On our way back to dc! Fiscal conservatives fly on @FlyFrontier cc: @dougstafford @RandPaul pic.twitter.com/mYyYqHBrAa

— Sergio Gor (@SergioGor) October 29, 2015

Rubio (R)

• Follow: Cabot Phillips
• Role: Digital Grassroots Director
• Key Tweet: https://twitter.com/cabot_phillips/status/664291765818626048

• Follow: Eric Wilson
• Role: Digital Director
• Key Tweet: https://twitter.com/ericwilson/status/648872604388958208

This was the one of two *overflow* rooms for @marcorubio at the Villages in FL yesterday. pic.twitter.com/jslKHW5pQH

— Eric Wilson (@ericwilson) September 29, 2015

Sanders (D)

• Follow: Zack Exley
• Role: Senior Advisor
• Key Tweet: https://twitter.com/zackexley/status/654500037213351936

• Follow: Pinky Weitzman
• Role: Iowa Digital Director
• Key Tweet: https://twitter.com/PinkyWeitzman/status/664915045415948288

A really big yard sign in Clarinda, Iowa. #FeelTheBern #IowaForBernie pic.twitter.com/8J9emE28ED

— Pinky Weitzman (@PinkyWeitzman) November 12, 2015

Santorum (R)

• Follow: John Brabender
• Role: Media Consultant
• Key Tweet: https://twitter.com/JohnBrabender/status/653548466237480960

• Follow: Jessica Colόn
• Role: National Political Director
• Key Tweet: https://twitter.com/jessicabcolon/status/629422078488391680

Press wants to hear more from @RickSantorum post-debate pic.twitter.com/FCTUPNUH7O

— Jessica B. Colón (@jessicabcolon) August 6, 2015

Trump (R)

• Follow: Katrina Pierson
• Role: Spokeswoman
• Key Tweet: https://twitter.com/KatrinaPierson/status/664336541725138944

• Follow: Amanda Miller
• Role: Marketing
• Key Tweet: https://twitter.com/AmandaTMiller/status/585832549261320192

Kicking off a busy day in Iowa! Press conference w @realDonaldTrump aboard his 757. #Trump #MakeAmericaGreatAgain pic.twitter.com/TWaBN9pQ9L

— Amanda Miller (@AmandaTMiller) April 8, 2015

This list is also available on Twitter.

This story is part of TechRepublic's on-going Election Tech 2016 series. This non-partisan coverage will highlight the ways tech is shaping the election and shine the light on the players, the technologies, the vendors, and the strategies that are winning the game behind the scenes.

See Also:

• Election Tech 2016: The 4 technologies that will decide the next US president (TechRepublic)
• Why data-driven campaigning matters (TechRepublic)
• Young people talk about election on social media (CNET)
• US presidential candidate websites easy to hack, says report (ZDNet)