Meet Our Team

Tiffany is the President of End Citizens United, Let America Vote, and the End Citizens United/Let America Vote Action Fund. Since joining ECU, Tiffany has helped grow the group from a start-up to a nationwide organization with more than 4 million members and 1 million grassroots donors. Since its founding in 2015, ECU has raised over $200 million to help protect and strengthen democracy and has helped elect more than 600 democracy champions. Under her leadership, the group has made protecting the voice and vote of every American a national priority, which led to the introduction of the most significant anti-corruption and voting rights legislation in generations. Signifying its top priority status, the bill was designated H.R. 1 and S. 1, passed the U.S. House of Representatives, and received majority support in the U.S. Senate. Tiffany was named to Washingtonian’s list of the Most Influential People in Washington.

Tiffany began her career in government and politics when she became the first openly gay public official in Kansas in 2004 as a member of the Topeka City Council. There she led successful efforts to expand anti-discrimination protections. She has been described as a “force of nature” and a “high-quality leader” who can “grasp the responsibility to a larger cause.”

After working for Governor Kathleen Sebelius as her Research Director, Tiffany ran a political research firm based in Florida where she worked on some of the biggest races in the country. In 2012, she was the Vice President of Political Operations at Victory Fund in a record-breaking year for LGBTQ candidates that included electing the first openly LGBTQ U.S. Senator and doubling LGBTQ representation in Congress. She has served as a Chief of Staff to two Members of Congress and was the Deputy Political Director at the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, where she worked with top-tier Senate campaigns across the country.

Tiffany received her undergraduate degree from Washburn University in Topeka, Kansas, and her master’s from the University of Maryland. She sits on the board of the Congressional Progressive Caucus Center. She is a die-hard fan of the Kansas City Chiefs and U.S. Women’s Soccer. She lives in Washington, D.C. with her wife and their daughter.

Watch Tiffany on MSNBC and Cheddar News.

Ali is the Regional Political Director for the West + Pennsylvania at End Citizens United/Let America Vote. Before joining ECU, she served as the campaign manager for Katie Porter’s reelection campaign in CA-47 in 2022, overseeing the most expensive congressional race in the country that cycle. In 2020, she managed a red-to-blue congressional race in Bucks County, PA. As an alumna of EMILY’s List and the Teamsters, Ali has worked with dozens of electoral and advocacy campaigns up and down the ballot in over 20 states. Ali comes to D.C. via Delaware, Massachusetts, Northern Ireland, D.C., Pennsylvania, and California. She graduated from Mount Holyoke College with a BA in Politics and Queen’s University Belfast with an MSc in Political Psychology.

Mark is the Deputy Director of Compliance & Operations at End Citizens United. Mark comes to ECU with a background in compliance working with campaigns, PACs, and labor unions. He has also worked in property management and accounting.

Mark got his start in politics as a high school intern in the office of Representative Carol-Shea Porter, and went on to complete two other congressional internships while attending Lesley University in Cambridge, MA. Mark graduated with a major in Global Studies and a minor in Political Science.

At 19 years old, Mark was a candidate to become the State Representative for New Hampshire’s 9th District — it was an extremely close election with the unfavorable outcome decided by just 9 votes.

Jonelle Bailey is the Research Coordinator at End Citizens United. Prior to joining the team, Jonelle worked at EMILYs List as the Special Assistant to the President where she managed the President’s communications, development, and endorsement research. In addition, Jonelle was the Manager of Development at the Voter Participation Center and Center for Voter Information where she oversaw the donor database and conducted prospective donor research.

She is a graduate of Emory University where she studied U.S. History and Gender Studies and she graduated from Columbia University where she obtained her Master’s in Human Rights Studies. Jonelle originates from Atlanta, Georgia and is the proud aunt of two French bulldogs.

Maddie is the Deputy Development Director at End Citizens United. Before joining ECU, Maddie was the Deputy Finance Director for Amy McGrath’s congressional campaign, the Finance Director for Josh Butner’s congressional campaign, and an intern with the Los Angeles County Democratic Party.

Originally from St. Louis, Maddie graduated from UCLA with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science.

Jonas Edwards-Jenks is the Communications Director at End Citizens United. Prior to joining ECU, Jonas worked for Everytown for Gun Safety where he led press and communications for the founder of Moms Demand Action and served as Associate Director of Grassroots communications. Jonas previously was the Press Secretary for U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill (D-MO) before serving as the communications director for Congressman Max Rose (D-NY) and his re-election campaign.

Jonas is a Mainer who graduated from Northeastern University and now lives in Silver Spring, MD with his wife, daughter and rescue dog where he enjoys cooking and supporting New England sports teams.

Justin is the Digital/Communications Assistant at End Citizens United and Let America Vote. Before ECU, he was an organizer in Atlanta working with mutual aid organizations, local campaigns, and nonprofits helping with communications, voter registration, and digital content creation.

Born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, Justin Graduated from Emory University with a B.A in Political Science and Women Gender Studies. He has a passion for teaching yoga, but when he isn’t in shavasana you can typically find him relistening to one of his favorite albums or reading Octavia Butler.

Anatolia is the Deputy Digital Director for End Citizens United / Let America Vote. Before joining the ECU team, she helped develop content as a digital strategist for the DCCC IE and Kinetic Strategies. She previously worked in political for Amy Klobuchar’s primary campaign and in organizing for NextGen Virginia. Anatolia grew up in Staunton, Virginia and received her B.A. in Government and Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies from William & Mary. Outside of the office, you can find Anatolia holed up at a DC book store or on the hunt for fresh flowers.

Whitney is the Development Assistant at End Citizens United/Let America Vote. Prior to joining ECU/LAV, Whitney was a Public Opinion Consultancy intern for ClearPath Strategies where she engaged with various progressive politicians and business leaders through statistical analysis and qualitative research. She also served as an intern for 314 Action during the 2022 election cycle. Whitney is originally from Clearwater, Florida and graduated with a degree in Political Science from Elon University. She is a fierce Jeopardy competitor, a fan of a good fantasy novel, and an avid concert-goer.

Lynn is the IE Senior Political & Research Director at End Citizens United. Lynn has worked in politics since 2011, when she was a researcher on Governor Steve Beshear’s reelection campaign in Kentucky. Since then, she has served as Deputy Research Director for Senator Jon Tester’s reelection race in Montana and former Governor Terry McAuliffe’s gubernatorial campaign in 2013. In 2014, Lynn was a Research Associate at the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee’s independent expenditure arm. During the 2016 cycle, she was Research Director for Senator Michael Bennet’s reelection campaign in Colorado, where she was in charge of both self and opposition research, and served as a key part of the campaign’s messaging and strategy team. Lynn also was a consultant with the research firm of Jones Mandel.

Lynn is originally from Pennsylvania with stops in Illinois and Wyoming. She graduated from Gettysburg College with a B.A. in Political Science and serves as a member of the City of Alexandria’s Public Records Advisory Committee.

Dalit is the Executive Coordinator at End Citizens United/Let America Vote. Prior to joining ECU, Dalit was the Operations Director for Scott Sifton’s U.S. Senate Race in Missouri. During the 2020 election, she was a Field Organizer for the Iowa Coordinated Campaign. Dalit is from Ann Arbor, Michigan and a graduate of Dickinson College.

N.V. (Nick) is the Digital Director at End Citizens United & Let America Vote. Prior to joining ECU, Nick managed traditional and digital communications for competitive campaigns in the Midwest and consulted state and local candidates on direct mail and voter outreach. Nick is a proud alum of Representative Tim Ryan’s congressional campaign, NextGen Climate, Battleground Texas, Enroll America, and President Barack Obama’s reelection campaign, OFA-OH.

A fierce proponent of his hometown of Cleveland, Nick comes to ECU after spending the past two and a half decades living across Ohio — including in Parma, the Mahoning Valley, Amish Country, and most recently Columbus.

Bawadden is the Deputy Communications Director at End Citizens United. Bawadden’s background in progressive politics began in field, working on the 2014 gubernatorial race in Maine. Prior to joining the team at ECU, Bawadden was a legislative intern on Capitol Hill in Senator Angus King’s office.

Bawadden is a proud Mainer and an avid fly fisherman, seeking every opportunity to get out on the water and cast a fly. He is also extremely confident that his beloved Buffalo Sabres will make a run for the Stanley Cup in the near future.

Justine Turner is the Political Director at End Citizens United/Let America Vote. Justine has managed electoral and advocacy campaigns to promote progressive policies, engage external stakeholders, build innovative paid advertising campaigns, and win campaigns for Democratic candidates and organizations. Prior to joining ECU/LAV, Justine worked as VP of Political for iHeartMedia where she led Democratic outreach efforts. Her professional experience before joining iHeart was in the world of electoral politics, including serving as National Delegate Operations Director on Elizabeth Warren’s presidential campaign; managing a Congressional special election campaign in New Mexico; directing multimillion-dollar independent expenditure campaigns for the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee; coordinating the execution of a nine-figure program at Senate Majority PAC; and aiding political clients with media strategy at SKDKnickerbocker.

Justine has lived in D.C. since graduating Johns Hopkins University with stints away in Boston, Albuquerque, and her hometown of Chicago. She likes eating chocolate and nachos (not together) and discussing curly haircare techniques.

Brian Wietgrefe is the Research Director. Brian has over a decade of experience in research, starting with Mark Dayton’s successful gubernatorial campaign in 2009, and having worked as a consultant, RD for ProgressNOW, regional RD for the DCCC, and RD for Sen. Tina Smith’s special election victory.

Brian calls Minnesota home, but graduated from the University of Wisconsin and is a diehard Badgers fan. When he isn’t working, he can be found playing ultimate frisbee or grilling.

Congressman Ron Barber represented Arizona’s 2nd Congressional District from 2011–2014 — a diverse swath of historic Southeastern Arizona that includes communities as disparate as Tucson, where cutting-edge technology is being developed, and Tombstone, where the echoes of the Gunfight at the OK Corral live on. Rep. Barber served on the Committee on Homeland Security and the House Armed Services Committee. Additionally, he served on the Committee on Small Business and the Bipartisan Working Group. Before becoming a member of Congress, Barber had a 32-year career with the Division of Developmental Disabilities in the Arizona Department of Economic Security, eventually serving as its director. Rep. Barber and his wife also ran a small business in Tucson for 22 years. In 2007, Rep. Barber was appointed Representative Gabrielle Giffords’ seat after she resigned to focus on her recovery from an attempted assassination.

Jessica Vanden Berg is an Ambassador for the New Leaders Council, a member of the American Council on Germany, and a partner with the Truman National Security Project. Ms. Vanden Berg is a founder of Maverick Strategy and Mail and has worked both domestically and abroad advising corporate clients, political and advocacy campaigns, as well as independent expenditures on strategic communications, grassroots and grass tops outreach, management, targeting, planning, and budgeting. In addition to her work, she worked for the ONE Campaign as the Democratic campaign manager for the ONE Vote ’08 Presidential Initiative. The campaign used technology, press, and grassroots support to push the presidential candidate to support real measures in dealing with global poverty and health. She managed staff throughout the country, and was able to persuade the candidates to guarantee real commitments to saving lives.

Chris Massicotte has been passionate about providing Democratic campaigns and progressive causes with the most effective and innovative technology for years. Prior to his current role as DSPolitical’s chief operating officer, Massicotte served as vice president of sales and marketing at NGP VAN Inc., the largest political technology company serving Democratic candidates and their progressive allies. Massicotte has also worked on a variety of Democratic campaigns, serving for a time as finance director to Rep. Rush Holt (D-NJ). He is also an outspoken supporter of LGBT equality and works closely with a number of organizations including the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, where he is currentlyEastern Caucus Chair. Massicotte is a graduate of Villanova University with a bachelor’s degree in accounting and The University of Pennsylvania with a master’s degree in government administration.

Lanae Erickson loves working on the hardest and most divisive subjects, and as Senior Vice President for Social Policy & Politics at Third Way, she does just that, tackling hot-button issues like immigration, abortion, religious liberty, and guns, as well as helping to drive crucial policy conversations like how we can ensure our higher education system is delivering for students.

Previously, Lanae served as a member of President Obama’s third Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. She was also Legislative Counsel at Alliance for Justice, where she investigated the backgrounds of federal judicial nominees on civil and human rights and advocated for progressive policies on issues from detention and interrogation policy to equal pay. Before that, she was a “real” lawyer at the Legal Rights Center and the Center for Victims of Torture.

Lanae’s commentary has been featured in a variety of news outlets, including The Washington Post, The New York Times, USA Today, Politico, The New Yorker, and PBS News Hour. She has also appeared on NPR, Fox News, CSPAN’s Washington Journal, CNN, Bloomberg Television, Air America, and Minnesota Public Radio.

She earned her J.D. magna cum laude from the University of Minnesota, and her Bachelor’s degree from Mount Holyoke College. Originally from the beautiful Land of 10,000 Lakes (which actually has significantly more than 10,000 lakes), Lanae is now a proud Washingtonian. She has played violin since the first grade and is the principal second violinist in DC’s Capital City Symphony.

Simone L. Ward is currently serving as theBattleground State Director for Hillary forAmerica in Florida. Recently, she served as the first African-American National Political Director for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC). As political director, she was responsible for developing a strategy to defend 10 democratic U.S.Senate seats and win back the majority in the 2016 election cycle. In 2014, Simone served as Campaign Manager for U.S. Senate candidate Natalie Tennant (D-WV), and program consultant for the re-development of the Congressional Black Caucus Institute’s (CBCI) national BOOT CAMP training program.Ms. Ward currently sits on the board of directors for the Higher Heights for America, Democratic GAIN, and the DNC’s Democratic Women’s Alliance (DWA) advisory council. She has served as a guest lecturer at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, Georgetown, Trinity andAmerican Universities. She is a graduate of the Oklahoma City University and was raised in Kansas City, Missouri.

Bill Smith is a founding partner of Civitas Public Affairs Group. He has over two decades of experience in campaign management, message research and development, strategic planning, and movement building. He currently advises philanthropists, foundations, and donor collaboratives on a wide range of policy objectives, as well as national nonprofit organizations seeking to advance progressive policies at the state and federal levels.

Prior to starting Civitas, Bill served as the National Political Director for Gill Action, working across the country to secure marriage equality and other key policy wins by building political power for the LGBT community. He counseled a network of donors that invested nearly $15 million into targeted campaigns supporting the freedom to marry and LGBT equality, including nearly 200 successful elections across the country.

Bill has worked extensively as a general consultant, providing critical counsel to elected officials, political organizations, and social movement organizations. He previously worked as a political operative for Karl Rove + Company and Wilson Grand Communications. He has led teams of the nation’s premier pollsters, media consultants, and campaign operatives on both sides of the aisle.

Bill also serves on the boards of Faith in Public Life Action Fund and the Reconciling Ministries Network. A native of Alabama, Bill resides in Washington, D.C.

Matt Morrison is the executive director of Working America, a three-million-member labor organization mobilizing working people who don’t have the benefit of a union at their jobs. He is a leading political practitioner with experience working in over 500 elections throughout his career. Most recently, Working America has achieved a 76 percent win rate in the 87 competitive elections it has worked in since November 2016.

In his earlier role as Working America’s political director, Morrison led the refinement of the organization’s field and member communications programs through the use of clinical testing and advanced analytics. Under his direction, Working America combines innovative integration of traditional field organizing with analytics to increase targeting accuracy and voter turnout for candidates who support a fair economy for working-class Americans.

Prior to joining Working America, Morrison served on John Edwards’ 2008 presidential campaign, in the government affairs department of the American Federation of Teachers and on Capitol Hill in the office of Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.).

He holds undergraduate and law degrees from Washington University in St. Louis.

A leading Democratic strategist and Political Commentator for CNN, Karen Finney is an independent consultant working with political and corporate clients on crisis communications, branding, public affairs, polling and strategy. She was a Senior Advisor to Stacey Abrams’ Gubernatorial campaign, the Democratic National Committee and AL Media in the 2018 election cycle. Finney served as Senior Advisor for Communications and Political Outreach and Senior Spokesperson for Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign.

From her experience working in media, national politics, political and communications strategy in both the public and private sectors, Finney brings a unique perspective to her work. She was a political analyst and hosted her own show on MSNBC, “Disrupt with Karen Finney,”.  Her experience includes work on four presidential campaigns, both the President and First Lady during the Clinton Administration, and she was the Democratic National Committee’s first African American spokeswoman, helping to lead the DNC’s communications strategy for the “50 State Strategy,” successful 2006 Congressional elections and 2008 presidential campaign.  A former Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School’s Institute of Politics, Finney current serves as Board Vice Chair for NARAL pro-choice America, Board Chair at Ultraviolet and a co-founder Power Rising.  Finney is also a Terker Fellow at George Washington University’s School of Journalism and Public Affairs.

Jason Kander joined the Army after September 11, 2001, rose to the rank of Captain, and served in Afghanistan as a military intelligence officer. Today, he serves as President of Veterans Community Project and is leading the organization’s national expansion.

A former Missouri state legislator and Missouri Secretary of State, he was the first millennial in the nation elected to a statewide office. After over-performing the Democratic presidential ticket by 16 points but narrowly failing to unseat an incumbent Republican Senator in 2016, Jason founded Let America Vote, a national campaign against voter suppression. He served as a teaching fellow at the University of Chicago Institute of Politics, worked as a CNN Commentator, and appeared on every major television network.

In 2019, he reemerged with a new role in public service, leading the national expansion of Veterans Community Project (VCP), a Kansas City-based organization founded by combat veterans. VCP’s mission is to fill the gaps in services for all veterans and provide transitional housing to end veteran homelessness. Jason has promised to expand VCP to eight additional cities by 2022 and then to every major city in America.

Jason, who is 38, is a graduate of American University and Georgetown Law School. He is married to his high school sweetheart, Diana, and they live in Kansas City with their son True. In his spare time, Jason enjoys training for irrational physical challenges and coaching his son’s baseball team.