Julianna Smoot

Having been a key player in both of President Obama’s campaigns, his Administration, and the successful effort to reclaim the U.S. Senate in 2006, Julianna Smoot is widely regarded as one of the country’s top political operatives and the most successful fundraiser in American political history. One of the first things Barack Obama did when he began his historic run for the Presidency in 2007 was to bring Julianna aboard as his National Finance Director. By Election Day, the campaign had raised more money than any campaign in U.S. history. In 2012, as Deputy Campaign Manager, Julianna and her team broke the records again, raising more than $1 billion. The President has also tasked Julianna with key roles in his administration, including Chief of Staff to U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk, White House Social Secretary and Co-Chair of the Presidential Inaugural Committees in 2009 and 2013. During the 2006 election cycle, Julianna raised record sums as National Finance Director for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee under Senator Chuck Schumer when Democrats took back majority in the US Senate. After graduating from Smith College with a degree in government, Julianna held positions with Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle; Senator John Edwards of North Carolina; Senator Richard Durbin of Illinois; and Senator Chris Dodd of Connecticut. Julianna is co-founder of the Smoot Tewes Group, a full service political and public affairs firm. A native of North Carolina, she now splits her time between Washington, D.C. and Michigan, where her husband, Lon Johnson, serves as Chair of the Michigan Democratic Party. She graduated from Smith College.