sign in sign up
<<
Home , Freedom Partners, Marco Rubio, Marc Short, Mark Meadows

CHIEF OF STAFF, VICE PRESIDENT PENCE

Life in Brief Quick Summary Hometown: Beach, VA Lifelong conservative GOP operative who rose through party ranks to become a trusted Mike Current Residence: Arlington, VA Pence confidante. Utilizes expansive network of Koch allies, White House staff, and Education congressional ties to push Administration • M.B.A., , 2004 priorities • B.A., Washington & Lee, 1992 • Polished and pragmatic tactician who plays a behind-the-scenes role advising Vice President Family: Pence and other senior leaders • Married to Kristen Short, who has worked for • Early conservative political views shaped by his Young America’s Foundation, Freedom Alliance, father, Dick Short, a wealthy GOP donor well- and the Charles G. Koch Foundation connected to Virginia GOP circles • Three school-aged children • Extensive experience with and the Koch Brothers exposed him to large Work History network of GOP donors and influencers • Chief of Staff to the Vice President of the United • Earned reputation as smart strategist on States, 2019-Present working closely with then-Rep. • Senior Fellow at UVA Miller Center of Public • Provided GOP establishment credentials and Affairs, 2018-19 congressional experience to Trump White • Contributor for CNN, 2018-19 House to advance Administration’s early • Partner at Guidepost Strategies, 2018-19 agenda, including on 2017 tax cuts and Neil • White House Director of Legislative Affairs, Gorsuch’s confirmation to the Supreme Court 2017-18 • Devout evangelical Christian • President of Advance Strategies, LLC, 2016 • Communications Adviser to Mike Pence, Trump Approach and Motivations for President 2016 • Senior Advisor, Rubio For President, 2016 Practical, calculated tactician after years on Hill • Executive Director of Freedom Partners, 2008- 16 • Years working on the Hill earned him close • Chief of Staff for House Republican Conference relationships with lawmakers and political (R-IN), 2009-11 savvy to enact legislation • Chief of Staff for Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchinson (R- TX), 2006-09 Influenced by Christian faith and upbringing in • McGuire Woods Consulting, unknown dates conservative household • Spokesperson, Dept. of Homeland Security, • Political beliefs rooted in early life growing 2001-03 up in conservative household with politically • President, Young America’s Foundation, dates active father who believed in “more freedom unknown and less government” • Finance Director for for Senate, • Guided by deeply held Christian beliefs; 1994 credits Oliver North with helping him shape

his faith and accept Christ

PEOPLE RESEARCH SERVICE #[ProfileID] 1

MARC SHORT CHIEF OF STAFF, VICE PRESIDENT PENCE

Policy Positions and Areas of Focus Core Communities

Stints in the Senate and as head of Freedom Strong network of conservative donors and GOP Partners shaped his establishment-leaning officials views on , tax policy, and immigration Conservative Donor Network: Credited with Counteracting Liberal Bias: Consistent interest building and operating the Koch political throughout career financial network • Started conservative magazine at Washington & • Emily Seidel, CEO of , Lee called , designed to counter worked for him under Pence the liberal values he believed faculty promoted • Wife Kristen Short has worked for several • As leader of Young America’s Foundation, goal conservative groups including the Young was focus on Reagan era and legacy to combat America’s Foundation, Freedom Alliance, and liberal bias on college campuses the Charles G. Koch Foundation • Ties to Dallas millionaire Doug Deason as a Immigration Reform: Views somewhat shifted Koch donor and through 2016 Rubio campaign between Senate and White House • Richard Ribbetrop, former SVP at Freedom • Worked with Sen. (R-TX) Partners, initially hired him at the Koch group on temporary without a • Worked with Andy Koenig at Freedom Partners path to citizenship, in attempt to forge moderate solution; partnered with Pence in the House Congressional & Establishment GOP: Strong • As VP Pence’s chief of staff, calls for federal Hill connections to GOP members and staff funding for border security and detention • Worked at Guidepost Strategies alongside Phil Cox, former Executive Director of Republican Free Trade: History of advocating for free and Governors Association (RGA) reciprocal trade • Worked as close advisor to Sen. • At Freedom Partners, waged campaign against (R-FL) during the 2016 GOP primary Export-Import Bank (EIB), claiming it interfered • Former House Chair Rep. with and hurt small businesses (R-NC) worked with him and • Between leading White House legislative office complimented his legislative judgment and becoming Pence’s Chief of Staff, formed • Executive Director of Senate Conservatives Trade Works for America, a 501(c)(4) that has Fund, Mary Vought, worked with him at the pushed for passage of the United States- House GOP Conference Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) • Argues that countries taking advantage of US Virginia/UVA Alum Conservatives: Exposed to markets should allow for US to have the same state’s conservative politics at young age opportunities in their markets • First foray into politics came during Oliver North’s failed campaign for one of Virginia’s US Low Taxes: Has worked inside and outside Senate seats; considers North a mentor government to fight tax increases • Prominent UVA alumni including Rich Lowry, • At Freedom Partners, criticized legislation Kate Obenshain, Tom Saunders, and former increasing gas tax, arguing it would hurt lower Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli publicly income Americans by acting as regressive tax defended Short’s fellowship with the school’s and increasing gas prices public policy and presidential-history research • Played key role in passage of the 2017 tax bill, center after two professors resigned in protest of operating as the White House’s liaison to his appointment Congress and relying on strong congressional • Virginia Beach GOP activist Gary Byler is a relationships to adjudicate key issues close family friend

PEOPLE RESEARCH SERVICE #[ProfileID] 2

MARC SHORT CHIEF OF STAFF, VICE PRESIDENT PENCE

Relevant Financial Information Publications, Media, and Speaking

History of donating to GOP candidates and Has published op-eds in newspapers on fiscal PACs policy; in his capacity as chief of staff to Mike Pence, appears in national cable news outlets Compensation Sources (Exceeding $5,000): and attends academic conferences to discuss Provided consulting services to several GOP conservative policies candidates and conservative interest groups • Publications: Frequently penned advocacy op- • NRSC eds during stint with Freedom Partners • Marco Rubio for President • Favorite Subjects: Banking, taxes, the budget • Susan B. Anthony List • Preferred Outlets: Newspapers including the • Mike Pence for Indiana , New York Times, the • General Electric Gainesville Sun • for Congress Media: Often supports President Trump’s Federal: Senate Candidates agenda on major cable networks • Has donated over $15,000 to GOP Senate • Favorite Subjects: Trade, Trump Administration candidates since 1994 including Martha • Preferred Audience: National cable news McSally, Marshal Blackburn, Marco Rubio, Ben outlets including CNBC, Bloomberg, and FOX Sasse, , George Allen, News Sharon Angle, John McCain, and Oliver North • Social Media Habits: Active on

Federal: GOP PACs Speaking: Speaks in academic circles on youth • Has donated over $20,000 to GOP-aligned activism and political experience in Trump White PACs since 1994 including KOCHPAC, Senate House Conservatives Fund, Defend America PAC, and • Favorite Subjects: Campus activism, free speech, personal background • Preferred Audience: Student groups including National Conservative Student Conference and Washington Term Series at Washington & Lee University

PEOPLE RESEARCH SERVICE #[ProfileID] 3

MARC SHORT CHIEF OF STAFF, VICE PRESIDENT PENCE

Family and Personal Background Criticisms and Controversies

Virginia native with family in business and non- No notable controversies profits • Born and raised in Virginia Beach, VA • Father, Richard (Dick) T. Short III, was a manager of Equitable Life and member of the Million Dollar Round Table and President of Timolat, Inc. • Mother, Florence (Kim) Timolat Short, is President of the Short Family Foundation • Brother, James “Jas” Short, is an SVP at Eagle Asset Management

PEOPLE RESEARCH SERVICE #[ProfileID] 4

MARC SHORT CHIEF OF STAFF, VICE PRESIDENT PENCE

COVID-19 Response

Pence’s trusted right-hand man who has carried an upbeat message about the economy’s ability to recover from the crisis

Relevant Positions • Influential relationship with Mike Pence

Statements: Optimistic view of the economy and containment of the disease; offers support of President Trump • Regular appearances on to assure public that the foundation of the economy is strong despite short-term challenges related to the COVID-19 outbreak • Has stated there are no plans for a nation-wide quarantine • Defended Trump’s tweets as effective way for the President to deliver information on COVID- 19

PEOPLE RESEARCH SERVICE #[ProfileID] 5