Founding Partner- Strategic Partners & Media
Veteran political strategist Russ Schriefer has been shaping winning campaign messages for more than three decades. He’s held key roles in seven presidential campaigns, including the campaigns of President George H.W. Bush, President George W. Bush, and Mitt Romney, and has helped guide dozens of Representatives, Senators, and Governors to office.
Russ’s iconic advertising campaigns have become part of today’s political lexicon, with one columnist calling a 2018 gubernatorial series “as powerful, focused and skillfully crafted a political ad campaign as I have ever seen”. As a strategic advisor, Russ is known for his close, personal collaboration with candidates – serving as a media and debate coach, issues expert, campaign operations adviser, and source of fresh ideas.
Russ also provides strategic counsel and crisis messaging advice to a wide range of corporate clients, including Fortune 500 companies and national associations. His advertising campaigns have built critical grassroots and legislative support for key corporate initiatives.
Russ has produced two Republican National Conventions, designing the program for the party’s most important national live event. In that role, he also produced evocative legacy films for the party’s nominees and shaped primetime media messaging. The New York Observer called the 2004 convention “the most meticulously produced campaign convention ever televised and perhaps the most successful” and The New York Times called the 2012 Romney biopic “genuinely heartwarming.”
His election wins have made history. In 2014, he helped guide “the biggest upset in the country” with Governor Larry Hogan’s stunning victory in Maryland, which was followed by his successful 2018 re-election campaign. Also, in 2014, Russ helped elect Elise Stefanik, then the youngest woman ever elected to Congress.
A partial list of his additional candidates includes: Governor Chris Christie, Governor Asa Hutchinson, Governor Mary Fallin, Governor Bill Weld, Governor Paul Cellucci, Governor Tom Ridge, Governor Bob Riley, Senator Dan Coats, Senator Johnny Isakson, Senator Richard Lugar, Senator John Cornyn, and Senator Roy Blunt.
Russ started his career in politics working as a Legislative Assistant, Press Secretary, and Chief of Staff on Capitol Hill, and managing campaigns at the NRCC and the NRSC. He has consulted and lectured on politics and media in the United States, Russia, Africa, Cambodia, and Egypt. He also serves on the board of the Tony Award-winning Signature Theatre in Arlington, VA.
Russ graduated from Manhattan College and lives in Maryland with his wife, award-winning columnist, author, TV commentator, and entrepreneur, Nina Easton, and their daughter, Ellie. When he can’t be found watching a show at the theatre, Russ is known to throw together fantastic dinner parties with food and an atmosphere that never disappoints.
