RNC Announces Jeff Larson As Senior Advisor and Sara Armstrong as Chief Operating Officer

Press Release by the RNC

WASHINGTON – Today, RNC Chairman Reince Priebus announced that RNC Jeff Larson will serve as Senior Advisor and Sara Armstrong will serve as RNC Chief Operating Officer for the 2016 presidential election cycle. This comes on the heels of this week’s announcements about new RNC Chief of Staff Katie Walsh as well as a restructure and expansion of the data, digital and technology teams.

“Jeff and Sara’s leadership over the last two election cycles has been critical for our success as a committee, and I’m personally grateful that they will continue to serve the RNC,” said Chairman Priebus. “As Chief of Staff in 2011 and 2012, Jeff helped us right the ship at the RNC when we overcame a $25 million debt to break fundraising records. As Deputy Chief of Staff in 2011-2012 and then as Chief Operating Officer in 2013-2014, Sara has been an invaluable part of our leadership team, ensuring the success of our endeavors across departments.”

“The RNC has a lot of demands heading into the presidential cycle. We will fully fund the Presidential Trust, put on a great Convention, have the best digital, data and tech operation possible, and continue redefining the way we build relationships and contact voters,” said RNC Chief of Staff Katie Walsh. “I'm looking forward to the challenges ahead and working with Jeff and Sara as we make the difficult decisions to grow our party and elect a new Republican president.”

Jeff Larson served as RNC Senior Advisor for the 2014 election cycle after serving as Chief of Staff during the 2012 presidential election cycle. Last cycle, Jeff ran the NRSC independent expenditure arm that helped win 9 senate seats He has an extensive background as a businessman and political strategist. He served as the CEO of the 2008 Host Committee for the Republican National Convention. Earlier in his career, he was a campaign staffer for George H. W. Bush, a Regional Political Director for the RNC, and an advisor on both of George W. Bush's presidential campaigns.

Sara Armstrong served as RNC Chief Operating Officer for the 2014 election cycle after serving as Deputy Chief of Staff during the 2012 presidential election cycle. She previously worked as RNC Director of Member Services. From July 2007 to January 2009, she was a Special Assistant to President George W. Bush and Deputy Chief of Staff to First Lady Laura Bush. Her prior positions include White House Visitors Office Director, Deputy Director of Correspondence for the First Lady, White House Correspondence Analyst, and Sales/Marketing Manager at GMAC.