US Representative Edward J. Markey, who is running in a special election to succeed Senator John F. Kerry, has hired a campaign manager fresh off a win in a high-profile senate race in Ohio, according to a statement from the campaign Saturday.
Sarah Benzing managed the campaign of incumbent Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown, who defeated Republican Josh Mandel in a battleground race that attracted huge waves of outside spending.
According to The Hill, a Washington-based newspaper covering politics, Benzing grew up in the small western Iowa town of Neola and attended the University of Northern Iowa.
“Sarah is the best choice to lead this campaign of big issues and ideas,” Markey said in the statement. “Her proven track-record managing grassroots campaigns shows she has the leadership, know-how and passion to lead this campaign to victory. I am excited to have Sarah join us as campaign manager.”
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In 2011, Benzing managed the successful senate campaign of Kirsten Gillibrand, a New York Democrat.
Benzing was national field director for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee in 2008, according to The Hill.
In 2006, Benzing managed the winning campaign of Congressman Bruce Braley, an Iowa Democrat. After the election, Benzing served as Braley’s chief of staff.
“It is an honor to join Ed in his fight for Massachusetts’ workers and middle class families,” Benzing said, according to the statement. “I have long admired Ed’s core values and commitment to fighting the special interests. I look forward to helping him bring this important fight to the U.S. Senate.”
The Markey campaign has already hired two finance team veterans of the Elizabeth Warren campaign, Colleen Coffey and Michael Pratt. The Warren campaign raised a record $42 million to defeat then-Senator Scott Brown.
Chris Stuck-Girard can be reached at chrisstuckgirard@gmail.com.