Power Players in the 2022 Elections

Senator Jack Martins of the New York State Senate represents the 7th Senate District. Senator Martins was previously elected to the Senate in 2011 and left office in 2017. During his previous time in office, Senator Martins had many accomplishments including a cut in income taxes for middle-class New Yorkers which brought them to the lowest level in 58 years. His win in the recent 2022 election is sending him back to Albany to continue his work representing the constituents of the 7th District once again.

Vaughn Mayers and Effective Strategy Group had a busy year and campaign season. Between leading Public Advocate Jumanne Williams’ efforts for Governor in the June primary to ensuring State Senator Kevin Parker’s re-election in a contentious primary election, Vaughn has continued to rise as one of New York’s savviest political operatives staving off insurgent candidates and elevating progressives who are true to the cause. He is also currently a student at the City University of New York School of Law.

What motivated you to pursue a career in politics?
I was motivated to pursue a political career after realizing that many of society’s ills are a product of government action or inaction. Coupled with the criminal justice system’s devastation of my Brooklyn community, public service was an obvious choice for me.

What do you think are the most important issues facing the United States today?
The most critical issues facing the U.S. today are the re-emergence and proliferation of hate and racism and the emboldened way people disregard and disqualify their neighbors and their concerns (and all the new colorful language that masks the orator’s malevolent intentions).

What are you most looking forward to now that the elections are over?
The upcoming elections LOL.

John McLaughlin has worked professionally as a strategic consultant and pollster for 40 years. In 2016 and 2020, John worked as an advisor and pollster for Donald Trump, from the primaries through election day. His political clients have included former Presidential candidates Steve Forbes and Fred Thompson, 22 current and former U.S. Senators, and 16 current Republican members of Congress. Jim McLaughlin is a nationally recognized public opinion expert, strategic consultant, and political strategist who has helped to elect a U.S. President, Prime Ministers, a Senate Majority Leader, and a Speaker of the House. Jim has helped to elect over 70 members of Congress, 16 U.S. Senators, 10 Governors, and scores of other elected officials. 

What motivated you to pursue a career in politics? 
Wanting to make a difference in the great state of New York and the greatest country. Thanks to people who believed in us, what started as a passion and hobby of volunteering on local campaigns in Rockland County turned into a career and an opportunity to make a living working for candidates we believed in. We found survey research to be the most valuable resource in campaigns because it drives the planning, strategy, and tactics of all successful campaigns. –Jim McLaughlin

In 1976, when I was in college the country was headed in the wrong direction. So I volunteered for Reagan’s ’76 campaign among other local races, and served on my local County’s Republican Committee. After college I was working in banking and then finance, but still volunteering running campaigns for friends who were winning elections. In 1982 my friend Arthur Finkelstein offered me a position in his firm. – John McLaughlin

What do you think are the most important issues facing the United States today?
Freedom!!! The old political contrast used to be right vs left, Democrat vs. Republican. Now it is freedom vs. socialism. Remember, the Fascists, Marxists and Nazis all started out as socialists. – Jim McLaughlin

Ending the decline of America. Ending the exploitation of working Americans by big government socialists. Restoring freedom to individual Americans. – John McLaughlin

What are you most looking forward to now that the elections are over?
With the Republicans now in control of Congress, there will be a check and balance on Joe Biden’s failed, extremist agenda and we will no longer have one party rule.  The Republican majority in Congress will be great for America and for democracy.  Hopefully the politicians in Washington and Albany will listen to the people and work in a bi-partisan manner to make us more free, more safe and more prosperous economically. – Jim McLaughlin 

In 2022, we were fortunate to help Hungarian Prime Minister Orban win re-election; helped Prime Minister Netanyahu win in Israel; and help re-elect every one of our incumbent members and helped our candidates take back 5 seats from Democrats to win a Republican House Majority. Now we will work to elect President Trump again. – John McLaughlin

Tom is a battle-tested communications professional who specializes in developing and leading strategic public affairs campaigns for clients across a wide array of industries, including labor, energy, environment, and criminal justice. Tom develops innovative, award-winning solutions for his clients and provides strategic guidance, media relations, coalition management, and paid media advice for legislative and communications initiatives. He has also successfully assisted various corporate and not-for-profit organizations in navigating complex media environments and overcoming crisis situations. 

What motivated you to pursue a career in politics?
Since I was in high school, I always loved politics. I worked/volunteered on a few local campaigns and caught the bug. I started my career in another field, but I found myself constantly refreshing Liz Benjamin and Celeste Katz’s blog. One day, one of the partners I worked for called me into his office and simply asked, “why are you here, you love politics, go do what you love.” His name was Stu Dorskey, I think about him all the time. I started submitting my resume to all different types of jobs in politics, many had no interest in hiring an accountant. Maggie Moran had recently started a public affairs firm and she took a shot on me. She opened up a world that I didn’t even know existed.

What do you think are the most important issues facing the United States today?
Democracy and disinformation. The first two are interconnected. The role disinformation and partisanship have played in shaping our political ecosystem – nationally and in New York are concerning. More than forty percent of Americans believe the 2020 election was a hoax or they are willing to carry that lie because of their political beliefs. Bail reform has been rolled back twice even though no data supports any rise in crime is connected to the historic changes that were made. News outlets need to do a better job at reporting based on facts rather than rhetoric.

What are you most looking forward to now that the elections are over?
In the public affairs world, you don’t really get a break after the election cycle. As soon as campaign season wraps up, we are focused on legislative priorities, repetitional campaigns, and other projects our clients want to see advance. I will definitely have some time over the holiday season to spend time with my family and friends and to think about what’s next.

Congressman Gregory W. Meeks’ compassion and ability to collaborate are rooted in his upbringing. He grew up in an East Harlem public housing project and knew in his early years that he wanted to be in public service. Congressman Meeks has devoted his energy and skill to serving New York’s fifth Congressional district, one of the most diverse constituencies in the nation. His efforts go beyond just his work in Washington and extend to his work leading and growing our local Democratic Party.

What motivated you to pursue a career in politics?
I was inspired by my mother and father. who worked hard to ensure that their children would have opportunities for advancement that they never did. My parents passed on to me a profound sense of social justice, commitment to community, and willingness to extend a helping hand to those in need. I carried these values with me to Adelphi University and Howard University Law School, embracing the jurisprudence of my idol, Thurgood Marshall.

What do you think are the most important issues facing the United States today?
My focus is on revitalizing the economy, creating jobs and opportunities, and enhancing the resiliency of the nation’s transportation, housing, and environmental infrastructure. In addition, through my leadership of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, he believes that the United States should build coalitions around our interests and work with other countries to build a more stable and prosperous future.

What are you most looking forward to now that the elections are over? Simply getting back to work delivering for my constituents in the Fifth Congressional District, growing our broader Queens family, and an exciting upcoming season from the New York Mets.

Dr. Hank Sheinkopf has worked on an estimated 700 political campaigns across four continents, in 14 foreign nations, and in 44 American states over the last 35 years. His clients range from Bill Clinton to Fortune 500 corporations and unions. Justin Chae, a proud Stuyvesant alum, has worked on close to 150 campaigns across seven states. He has led one of the largest public health responses in history, rolled out the nation’s most extensive composting program, and represented some of New York’s biggest unions.

What motivated you to pursue a career in politics?
Complacency and apathy inspired us to try and raise the standards within the consulting and campaign industries.

What do you think are the most important issues facing the United States today? 
Antisemitic and Anti-Asian attacks continue to rise thanks to out of touch policy. Education standards are slipping and so is workforce readiness.

Ilyssa Meyer is the president of the Independent Neighborhood Democrats, the reform-minded political club encompassing Brooklyn’s 52nd Assembly District—which consistently has the highest voter-turnout district in the state. Founded in 1970, IND has deep roots in progressive political organizing and remains at the vanguard of Brooklyn’s reform movement today. Ilyssa took over as president in February 2022 after serving as corresponding secretary since 2018. Professionally, Ilyssa leads government relations and public policy at the New York City-based healthcare technology company, Zocdoc. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Oberlin College and an MPA from New York University. 

What are you most looking forward to now that the elections are over?
The midterms may be behind us, but that means the City Council races are just around the corner! The fun part of organizing is there is never a dull moment. As soon as one campaign cycle ends, we shift our focus to what’s next. That being said, I’m excited to support our amazing representatives, Assembly Member Jo Anne Simon and Senators Andrew Gounardes and Zellnor Myrie, as they embark on a new legislative session in Albany.

Millennial Strategies is a ten-year-old consulting firm with offices in Manhattan and Huntington. Since its inception, Millennial has been a driving force behind some of New York’s most successful public policy endeavors, from improving public education and promoting environmental stability to passing universal pre-K, paid family leave legislation, and ushering in the legalization of ridesharing services statewide. Co-founders Jeff Guillot and Alex Voetsch bring a variety of public and private sector experience to the firm’s development and implementation of political campaigns, government relations programs, and issue advocacy efforts.

What motivated you to pursue a career in politics? 
The desire to make positive change in people’s lives by pursuing forward-thinking public policy and supporting engaging and innovative candidates.

What do you think are the most important issues facing the United States today? 
The amount of power that the Supreme Court has been choosing to wield of late is especially concerning, particularly when it comes to the emergence of independent state legislature theory.

What are you most looking forward to now that the elections are over? 
Traveling – Alex Voetsch

Spending more time with my kids – Jeff Guillot

Mission Control is a premier Democratic direct mail firm whose recent clients include Governor Kathy Hochul, NY Senator Monica Martinez, and Laborers Building a Better New York. Foster serves as Mission Control’s senior strategist and most recently worked as campaign manager for U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff’s historic campaign in Georgia. In his role as partner, Jones has produced compelling and creative ads and provided strategic advice to campaigns across the country. Peavy is the founder and managing partner of Mission Control and has over 20 years of experience in political consulting.

Congressman Marcus  Molinaro was elected to serve New York’s 19th Congressional District in the 2022 election. A native New Yorker, former mayor, state assemblyman, and county executive, Congressman Molinaro has an impressive history in public service. Congressman Molinaro ran for Congress to make Upstate New York a better place to live, work, and raise a family. Prior to his election to Congress. Marc served three terms as county executive and held a leadership role in the New York State Association of Counties and served as president of the New York State County Executives Association.