NRSC announces new hires for 2014 cycle

{mosads}Other former Romney campaign staffers include Shelly Carson, who will be the NRSC’s finance director, and Mark McLaughlin, who will serve as the committee’s research director, both of whom worked on Romney’s 2008 bid, as well as Megan Sowards, now the NRSC’s general counsel but previously the 2012 Romney campaign’s deputy general counsel.

Carson also worked for the RNC and former Sen. Jim DeMint’s (R-S.C.) 2004 campaign, during which, as his finance director, she helped the then-candidate raise more than $9 million.

McLaughlin is the only internal promotion in the group, moving to research director after working the past cycle as deputy research director and the 2010 cycle as research analyst.

Rounding out the group of new hires are communications director Brad Dayspring and senior adviser Kevin McLaughlin. Dayspring will be leaving his post as senior adviser to GOP super-PAC YG Action Fund to join the NRSC, and prior to that worked as deputy chief of staff and communications director for House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.).

McLaughlin previously worked on a number of Senate races in the 2012 cycle, including those in Utah, Nebraska, Maine and Connecticut.

In announcing the hires, NRSC Chairman Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) said, “Senate Republicans are already on offense in a range of key races across the country and our experienced team at the NRSC stands ready to help our party capitalize on those opportunities,” and pledged to regain the Senate majority this coming cycle.

“Simply put, Senate Democrats have failed our country. 2014 is a critical election for this nation and our party. The NRSC will work hand in hand with all of our campaigns to hold every Democratic senator and candidate accountable for their record, and to help win back a Senate Republican majority next year,” he said.

Democrats’ aim to keep control of the Senate in 2014 has been complicated by a number of recent retirements, including those of Sens. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) and Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), that opened up pickup opportunities for Republicans.

However, the Senate landscape was similarly difficult for Democrats this time last cycle, and the party managed not only to hold onto, but to expand its majority.

The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee has already announced its hires for 2014, and has promoted or held onto much of its staff from 2012.