Geoffrey Antell: Chief of staff, Senate Republican Whip John Thune (SD)

Geoffrey Antell is known for his strong policy chops, and he keeps bills moving on the floor for Senate Republican Whip John Thune (S.D.).

Republicans are expected to take back control of the Senate in November, and Thune is a leading candidate to take over for Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.).

“If Thune’s going to be leader, Geoff’s going to be running the show,” one Senate GOP aide said.

Antell, a Harvard Law School graduate, has extensive experience in trade policy and is well versed in leadership-level political and policy discussions.

He took over as Thune’s chief of staff in September 2021 and served as policy director and counsel for Thune from January 2019 to September 2021. Before that he served as assistant to then-Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) for policy and counsel. And he served as trade counsel on the powerful House Ways and Means Committee from 2010 to 2016.

Thune praised his chief of staff for his wealth of experience and finely tuned understanding of how the House works, something that would be an asset if Republicans control both chambers of Congress next year.  

“Obviously a lot of experience. He understands the House because he came from there. Just a deep policy background with an ability to work with people, which you have to do in this environment,” Thune told The Hill. “This job requires and entails a lot of outreach, staff to staff, and an ability to work with the other members of the leadership team, and so Geoff has qualities that make him really equipped to do that.”

Antell is highly respected among his Senate colleagues but prefers to fly under the radar as he quietly slips in and out of Thune’s Capitol office several times a day to help negotiate agreements and put out fires on the floor.

Colleagues describe him as “a steady hand” and “calm.” He’s known for having honest conversations and setting realistic expectations about what can get done on the floor instead of telling people what they want to hear only to disappoint them later.

“He’s a guy who says, ‘This is what we have to do,’ and doesn’t panic. He keeps everyone around him calm and moves forward with whatever the strategy is,” said one source.