Who’s on Nikki Haley’s presidential campaign team?
Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley has kicked off her campaign for the White House, and her staff is a mix of longtime advisors and at least one staffer who worked on former President Trump’s 2020 reelection bid, people familiar with Haley’s campaign told McClatchy.
Here’s who will be advising Haley’s campaign on a day-to-day basis or supporting the presidential bid:
Betsy Ankney, campaign manager
A former political director for the National Republican Senatorial Committee (a group responsible for the GOP’s U.S. Senate campaigns across the country), Ankney is now serving in a major role on Haley’s presidential campaign. Ankney previously managed U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson’s successful reelection campaign in 2016, when the Republican lawmaker surprised many political analysts with a come-from-behind victory in Wisconsin. She was most recently executive director for Haley’s PAC, Stand for America.
Jon Lerner, senior adviser
Longtime Republican strategist Jon Lerner will be a senior adviser on the campaign, after serving as deputy ambassador to the United Nations under Haley. Lerner was previously an adviser to former GOP U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania, who retired from the Senate this year, and the anti-tax group Club for Growth, an organization that frequently sparred with the GOP establishment.
Barney Keller, media consultant
Conservative political operative Barney Keller will be the campaign’s media consultant, a role that traditionally helps direct digital and television ads and other mass-communication efforts with voters. Keller has a history of working with conservative Republican candidates and was once spokesman for the Club for Growth.
Chaney Denton, communications
Chaney Denton is a longtime Haley advisor, who will work in communications for the presidential campaign. She began working for Haley during her 2014 gubernatorial reelection campaign and then became press secretary in the governor’s office. Denton had a communications role for Haley when she became ambassador to the United Nations.
Nachama Soloveichik, communications
GOP strategist Nachama Soloveichik, along with Denton, will help helm the campaign’s communications. Soloveichik is a former Toomey aide — one of many former Toomey officials now working on Haley’s campaign — and a veteran of many Republican congressional campaigns.
Ken Farnaso, press secretary
Ken Farnaso is serving as Haley’s press secretary. He is a first-generation American of Filipino descent. He previously worked for U.S. Sen. Tim Scott, who also is considering a presidential run. In 2020 he was a deputy press secretary for former President Donald Trump’s reelection campaign.
Mary Kate Johnson
Mary Kate Johnson will be Haley’s finance director. She has been serving as the development director for Haley’s political action committee Stand for America. In the weeks leading up to Haley’s announcement, Johnson had been reaching out to potential donors to gauge their interest in joining Haley’s fundraising committee, CNBC reported.
Mark Harris, super PAC lead strategist
Mark Harris will serve as lead strategist for the super PAC supporting Haley’s presidential bid, SFA Inc. Harris, a veteran Republican operative based in Pennsylvania, was a longtime political adviser to Toomey.
