Power Players in the 2022 Elections

Representative Pat Ryan is a West Point graduate, combat veteran, and U.S. Congressman. Rep. Ryan was elected to office in 2022 after winning an upset special election in New York’s 19th Congressional District. In November, Rep. Ryan swiftly won re-election in the newly redistricted NY-18, becoming the first West Point graduate in its 220-year history to represent the Academy in the U.S. House of Representatives. He and his wife Rebecca live in Gardiner with their two sons, Theo and Cameron.

What motivated you to pursue a career in politics?
I lived by the West Point motto: Duty, Honor, Country. I ran for Congress to bring that ethos to Washington. As our families struggle and our core freedoms are attacked, career politicians and greedy corporations are lining their pockets and failing to deliver the relief and results we desperately need. Fundamentally, you can not change the system if you’re sitting on the sidelines. I believe we need fewer career politicians in office and more patriots.

What do you think are the most important issues facing the United States today?
It’s about freedom. We have to ensure the sanctity of our elections, protect our democracy, and fight for fundamental freedoms like a woman’s right to choose, marriage equality, the right to vote, and the right for our children to be safe in our schools. At the same time, it’s about freedom from want as well. I am focused on delivering economic relief that drives down the cost of living. Building more affordable housing and giving working families the freedom to live, work, and raise their children anywhere in the Hudson Valley they choose.

What are you most looking forward to now that the elections are over?
I look forward to continuing to hit the ground running to deliver relief and results for Hudson Valley families. I’m also looking forward to spending a bit more time with my family. A campaign can be a grueling and long endeavor, but my wife, Rebecca, and two sons, Theo and Cameron, have been my rock, and I owe them a debt of gratitude. I am looking forward to spending some quality time with them.

Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton is a newly elected senator representing District 23 which includes Staten Island and Southern Brooklyn. In Albany Senator Scarcella-Spanton intends to fight to increase access to health care, expand childcare and after-school programs, get the guns off our streets and make our communities safer. Senator Scarcella-Spanton serves as the chair of the veterans, homeland security, and military affairs committee within the Senate.

U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer has served New York since 1999 and has acted as senate majority leader since 2021. Prior to this, Senator Schumer was a member of the New York State Assembly from 1975 to 1980 and the U.S. House of Representatives from 1981 until 1999. He is a graduate of Harvard Law School and is known for his determination to protect the middle class and improve New York’s economy.

Mike Morey is a partner at SKDK, and served as U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s New York communications director. He has extensive experience in New York campaign politics and advocacy. Managing Director Pia Carusone was most recently the lead strategist and ad maker for Senator Mark Kelly’s first and recent campaigns, and was former U.S. Representative Gabby Giffords’ chief of staff. Daniel Barash is SKDK’s senior vice president, and served as campaign manager for Senator Michael Bennet’s presidential campaign, oversaw the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s expansion districts, and handled more than 30 races in tough districts across the country in 2018. 

What motivated you to pursue a career in politics?
As a young college graduate, I took the advice to follow my interests, find passion in my work, and be unafraid to chart a different course. And when it comes to improving people’s lives, if you peel the onion back far enough, you get to politics. That’s as true today as it’s ever been. I’m fortunate to be as motivated by my work today as I was when I started. – Pia Carusone 

What do you think are the most important issues facing the United States today? 
We’re living in the age of disinformation and it’s affecting everything, from the integrity of our Democracy and climate change to public health and every civic issue in between. Disbelief in media institutions and long-trusted voices keeps us from solving some of our most challenging issues. We need to do everything we can to verify news and distinguish fact from fiction. – Pia Carusone

What are you most looking forward to now that the elections are over?
I’m looking forward to being a better parent! And getting some sleep. But in all seriousness, after the new year we will turn to working with our clients on swearing-in, inaugural plans, and setting priorities for office. We’re also having a lot of discussion with would-be candidates about their interest in certain races, what the field might look like, and how SKDK can help. – Pia Carusone

Slingshot Strategies notched major victories across our communications, polling, and advisory practices. Prominent successes include Congressman Pat Ryan’s winning campaigns, the Abolish Slavery National Network’s ballot initiatives banning slavery in Tennessee, Alabama, Oregon, and Vermont, as well as polling for 32BJ SEIU, the Clean Virginia Fund, and causes from reproductive justice to environmental cleanup. Other Slingshot clients included Open New York, Open Plans, Planned Parenthood of Greater New York, Hyphen Partnerships, the Community Violence Intervention Collaborative, the U.S. Treasury’s State Small Business Credit Initiative, and the Indian American Impact Fund.

Born in the Dominican Republic, Altagracia Soldevilla immigrated to the U.S. in 1990 as a single mother of four with no English language skills and no career. After struggling to get a job and raise her children, Soldevilla found success through education and attended the Borough of Manhattan Community College. 

What motivated you to pursue a career in politics?
I was motivated to run to help people in my community, especially Spanish speakers who don’t know English and most of the time don’t know their rights and the programs and resources available to them and their children.

What do you think are the most important issues facing the United States today?
I think there are many, but the most important is violence on the streets, schools, and subway stations around the five boroughs. We need to fund back the police, revise the bail reform, and clean the streets. Teenagers need help and could benefit from after-school programs. 

What are you most looking forward to now that the elections are over?
To continue helping my neighborhood and my district.

Assembly Member Michael Tannousis currently represents the 64th Assembly District and is the chairman of the Richmond County Republican Party. Prior to running for the Assembly, Michael was an assistant district attorney in the Bronx and Staten Island. He prosecuted violent felony offenses including homicides. In the Assembly, he serves as the ranking member of the Judiciary Committee, in addition to being a member of the Codes, Government Employees, and Cities committees.

What motivated you to pursue a career in politics? 
As a prosecutor, I observed first-hand how laws passed by the legislature affected people’s daily lives. For that reason, I wanted to effectively represent my community and make their voice heard.

What do you think are the most important issues facing the United States today?
I think the most important issues facing our nation and our city are crime, the economy, and our quality of life.

What are you most looking forward to now that the elections are over?
I look forward to rolling up my sleeves and working for my constituents.

Formerly known as Tucker Green & Company, Threshold Group is a full-service consulting firm in advertising, fundraising, and public affairs. Threshold spent 2022 providing mail, digital and television for numerous Gubernatorial, Congressional and Statewide races across the country. The firm, known for years as one of the best fundraising firms in the northeast, also provides public affairs and issue advocacy consulting – helping their clients navigate the political universe to accomplish their goals. This past year, Threshold helped elect Governor Kathy Hochul, Congressman Pat Ryan, flipped and held crucial legislative seats in multiple states, and raised millions of dollars for their clients. Moving into 2023, Threshold Group is looking forward to building on their numerous victories and helping their clients cross their own thresholds.

Lupe Todd-Medina has worked nationally within the government and political operative space for decades. Lupe spearheaded communications for the successful campaigns of Congress’ first Black Democratic leader, U.S. Representative Hakeem Jeffries. Lupe’s first-hand knowledge and understanding of many of the social issues affecting immigrant populations has helped her shape and implement winning communications campaigns in diverse communities. Lupe served as a senior advisor to the re-election campaign of Governor Kathy Hochul.

What motivated you to pursue a career in politics?
As an immigrant, a lover of reading, and the daughter of a social worker who eventually earned a Ph.D. in child psychology and development, I found excitement in how the government works in this country. I continue to be proud to be a participant in how we create and execute the laws of our land.

What do you think are the most important issues facing the United States today?
I’m hurt that race is still an issue in this nation, but it’s not surprising post-Trump. More importantly to me personally, as an Afro-Latino, the colorization of the Latino community is still troubling. We need to do better as a people. Locally, gentrification and a lack of real affordable housing have made the city unaffordable to the people that remained and survived the very violent 80s and 90s. 

What are you most looking forward to now that the elections are over?
Looking forward to dedicating time to my family who have always supported my endeavors, but also excited to continue to grow my business.

Trip Yang started Trip Yang Strategies, a top political consulting and paid media firm, after close to a decade of working on winning campaigns, including those that elected Attorney General Letitia James, Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, and Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez. Albert Suh joined in 2021 after managing Councilmember Shekar Krishnan’s successful campaign. In 2022, Trip Yang Strategies won every single open seat race they were involved in, including Dan Goldman for Congress, Grace Lee for Assembly, and the independent expenditure for Maryland Governor Wes Moore. 

What motivated you to pursue a career in politics? 
We enjoy and celebrate public service – that includes electing good people to office and working on impactful advocacy projects that benefit New Yorkers, as well as our previous time spent working in City government. 

What do you think are the most important issues facing the United States today? 
Democracy is under threat all across the country – from election deniers to attacks on voting rights. It is of utmost importance today that we engage all communities, especially marginalized POC communities, in authentic ways and push bright new leaders from diverse backgrounds to the fore. We must strengthen our laws, our communities, and our leadership bench in order to combat the threat of right-wing extremism. 

What are you most looking forward to now that the elections are over? 
Getting a little bit of rest! Besides that, we are always engaged in working on exciting projects — whether electoral or issue advocacy — that build up our communities.