A graduate of Hillsdale College, Paul Smith grew up in Las Cruces, NM. After gaining campaign experience at the Presidential and Senatorial level, Smith managed Rod Blum’s 2014 congressional race (named by Politico as one of the top five upsets in America) in Iowa’s First Congressional District. Smith then served as Rep. Blum’s Chief of Staff in the U.S. House, overseeing a first term that resulted in an 8-point reelection for Rep. Blum in a cycle that Blum was named the most vulnerable incumbent in Congress. He returned home to New Mexico in 2017 as Campaign Manager for a competitive gubernatorial race with a budget of over $5 million before joining Rival Strategy Group.