Corey Lewandowski
| Corey Lewandowski | |||
 | |||
| Basic facts | |||
| Current Campaign: | 2024 Donald Trump presidential campaign | ||
| Role: | Founder | ||
| Location: | New Hampshire | ||
| Affiliation: | Republican | ||
| Education: | •University of Massachusetts •American University | ||
| |||
Corey Lewandowski was a senior advisor for the 2024 Donald Trump presidential campaign. He is the founder of Lewandowski Strategic Advisors, a firm that advises corporations on strategies concerning federal government relations.[1] Lewandowski has also worked as a media commentator.[2]
After serving as the campaign manager for a portion of Donald Trump's (R) 2016 presidential campaign, he worked as a commentator for CNN during the remainder of the presidential election. After the 2016 election, Lewandowski co-founded Avenue Strategies in December 2016; he left the group in May 2017 after scrutiny surrounding his connections to Trump.[3][4][5][6]
Prior to working with Trump, Lewandowski spent seven years with the nonprofit organization Americans for Prosperity.
Early career
Early involvement in politics
Corey Lewandowski began his political career while still a student at the University of Massachusetts, Lowell. He ran for an open seat in the Massachusetts House of Representatives in 1994, losing to Rep. Thomas Golden Jr. (D). Lewandowski continued to work in politics throughout college as an intern for then-state Rep. Steven Panagiotakos (D). After graduate school at American University, Lewandowski worked on a campaign for former U.S. Rep. Peter Torkildsen (R-Mass.) and former U.S. Rep. Robert Ney (R-Ohio).[7]
Republican National Committee political director
- See also: Republican National Committee
Lewandowski then began working as the legislative political director for the Republican National Committee in 2001.[8]
Bob Smith 2002 U.S. Senate campaign
From this position, he moved to work with former U.S. Senator Bob Smith as campaign manager in 2002. As campaign manager, Lewandowski "was tasked with running the Senator’s re-election campaign, including developing radio and television advertisements, direct mail, GOTV efforts and overseeing an operating budget of $4.2 million."[9] The primary election saw Smith up against former U.S. Rep. John E. Sununu (R). According to The Guardian, Lewandowski "attacked Sununu, an Arab-American, for accepting a contribution from a Republican donor who had previously served as a lawyer for the Holy Land Foundation, a group with ties to Hamas."[10]
New England Seafood Producers' Association
In 2003, after Smith lost his re-election campaign, Lewandowski became executive director of the New England Seafood Producers' Association, a 501(c)(6) nonprofit organization that worked "to advocate, promote and sustain seafood."[8][11]
Americans for Prosperity regional director
- See also: Americans for Prosperity
In 2008, Lewandowski began work for Americans for Prosperity, a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization founded by David Koch.[8] The group as a whole focuses on economic policy; according to its website, Americans for Prosperity works "to advocate for policies that cut red tape and increase opportunity, put the brakes on government overspending, and get the economy working for hard workers– not special interests."[12] Lewandowski began working with the group as the East Coast regional director, focusing specifically on New Hampshire. In this role, he organized the group's first events and first presidential summits.[13] The Washington Post reported that Lewandowski started the group's New Hampshire operations with very little public support: "Five people showed up to their first event that June at the statehouse, if you count Lewandowski and the two other members of his family who attended." However, the paper noted that the group quickly rose in the state, in large part because of Lewandowski's work: "Three years later... AFP organized a presidential summit that drew all the frontrunners in the presidential race at that point. Lewandowski organized the event mostly by himself."[13]
Donald Trump presidential campaign, 2016
- See also: Donald Trump presidential campaign, 2016
| The following timeline details some of the highlights of Lewandowski's time with Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign. More detail and additional context on his work with Trump can be found below the timeline. |
| More on Corey Lewandowski |
|---|
| Profile |
| • Corey Lewandowski
|
| Additional coverage |
| • Campaign event incidents • Altercation with reporter • Trump staff tensions |
Lewandowski left Americans for Prosperity in February 2015 to join the Trump Organization.[14] When Trump launched his exploratory committee, Lewandowski was considered a political advisor.[15] On June 16, 2015, Trump announced his bid for the presidency at Trump Tower in New York City.[16] Lewandowski then transitioned to the role of campaign manager.[17]
Campaign management style
Speaking with New Hampshire Public Radio in July 2016, Ben Schreckinger of Politico noted that Lewandoswki's role in the Trump campaign was as "more of a logistics guys [sic] in this current role." Schreckinger also noted that both Lewandowski and Trump "share a love for the attention-getting stunt."[18] Schreckinger's Politico report quoted Bruce Berke, a New Hampshire lobbyist, who said, "Corey was a pretty aggressive guy on issues. He was a go-getter … and he was not afraid to air out an issue."[19]
For Trump's campaign, according to The Wall Street Journal, Lewandowski focused on keeping the costs low and working with consultants who were committed to Trump and his positions. He told the paper, "The problem with the professional political class is they make money regardless of who wins. Also we want people working on the Trump campaign who are tired of the way things are. That’s the way the voters feel."[20] A February 2016 NPR report called Lewandowski "Trump's alter-ego" and noted, "Lewandowski was known in New Hampshire political circles as a hard-charging operative who was as unafraid to take on Republicans as he was to take on Democrats." The piece also cited Jeb Bush advisor Ryan Williams, who "cautioned that Lewandowski never hesitates to get personal."[21]
Primary election activity
Make America Great Again PAC
In an October 2015 piece in The Washington Post, Lewandowski was mentioned in a story about whether the Make America Great Again PAC, a super PAC that took its name from Trump's campaign slogan, was connected to or sanctioned by the Trump campaign. One of the super PAC's consultants, Mike Ciletti, previously worked with Lewandoski when Lewandowski worked for Americans for Prosperity. Lewandowski first denied knowing Ciletti, then later stated, "I know a lot of people. I know of Mike Ciletti." According to the Post piece, Trump staffers had internal conversations about "the benefits of having an allied super PAC," but Lewandowsi "denied that such conversations occurred." He also "gave conflicting statements to The Post about whether he had made the decision to hire Ciletti, at first saying he had not and then in a subsequent conversation saying he did not remember."[22]
Fox News March 3, 2016, debate
During the March 3, 2016, Republican debate in Detroit, Michigan, Lewandowski came on stage during the first commercial break to consult with Trump. According to CNN Money, this was a violation of the rules set up by debate host Fox News. Citing sources from other Republican candidates, CNN wrote, "As in previous debates, Fox News had explicitly informed the campaigns that candidates were not allowed to communicate with their campaign staff during commercial breaks, the sources said. When Lewandowski was asked by Fox News staff to leave the stage, he refused to do so, according to a source at Fox News."[23]
Altercation with reporter Michelle Fields
According to a March 2016 report by Politico, Lewandowski "forcibly yanked Breitbart reporter Michelle Fields out of [Trump's] way after his press conference in Florida."[24] Initially, Fields told Breitbart News that someone "grabbed her arm" but that "she did not see who it was."[25] Jamie Weinstein, senior editor of the Daily Caller and Fields' boyfriend, identified Lewandowski as the one who had grabbed Fields' arm. Fields filed a police report against Lewandowski on March 11, 2016.[26] On March 29, Jupiter, Florida, police charged Lewandowski with simple battery.[27] On April 13, 2016, Politico reported that Lewandowski would not be prosecuted on the charges.[28] In a statement on April 14, 2016, Palm Beach County Deputy Prosecutor Adrienne Ellis said, "We're not charging him because he was reacting to what he perceived as a potential threat."[29] On the night of April 13, Fields told The Blaze that she planned to pursue civil action against Lewandowski and the Trump campaign.[30]
Phoenix, Arizona Trump rally, March 19, 2016
At a Trump rally on March 19, 2016, in Phoenix, Arizona, Lewandowski was accused of grabbing a protester by the collar of his shirt and pulling him.[31] Trump campaign spokesperson Hope Hicks denied that Lewandowski pulled the man. In an official statement, Hicks said, "Corey Lewandowski was speaking with a protestor at today’s rally in Tucson, Arizona when the individual he was speaking with was pulled from behind by the man to Lewandowski’s left." She went on, "The video clearly shows the protestor reacting to the man who pulled him, not to Mr. Lewandowski. Mr. Trump does not condone violence at his rallies, which are private events paid for by the campaign."[32] Speaking with George Stephanopoulos on This Week, Trump said Lewandowski was attempting to remove offensive signs from the crowd. Trump then defended Lewandowski for "having spirit."[33]
Reduced role in campaign
On April 2, 2016, Politico reported that Lewandowski's role in the campaign was shrinking. An insider quoted in the piece stated, "I’m not saying Corey’s going to be fired or anything because I don’t think he’s going to be, at least not at this juncture. ... But Mr. Trump’s listening to other people now. The crew’s expanding. The inner circle is not what it used to be."[34]
Deputy campaign manager Michael Glassner was promoted from national political director in early March 2016. According to a source in the article, Glassner's promotion "was not something Corey wanted to happen because it put someone in line as a successor in case he had to leave." The source said the move created resentment towards Glassner by staffers loyal to Lewandowski. In early March, Trump campaign staffer Stuart Jolly was promoted to "national field director, giving him primary authority over the hiring and firing of field staff." The piece noted that staff inside the Trump campaign "have voiced concerns that Trump is not going to be able to win over the party apparatus if they have someone like Corey running the show.”[34]
In late March, Trump named Paul Manafort as his convention manager, though according to sources close to the campaign, Manafort was "expected to take a leading role not just in the selection of delegates, but in the remaining primaries themselves".[34] On April 8, 2016, Manafort told CNN that he reported directly to Trump, not to Lewandowski.[35] After this revelation, The Washington Post reported, "Any effort to disguise the demotion of Corey Lewandowski vanished when Trump’s new 'convention manager,' Paul Manafort, revealed that he reports directly to Trump."[36]
On April 18, 2016, just ahead of the primary elections in New York, Politico reported that Trump "told senior staffers at a Saturday meeting that he wants his recent hires Paul Manafort and Rick Wiley to take the reins in upcoming states." The report went on to say, "[T]he moves are increasingly alienating staff loyal to the original team, headed by campaign manager Corey Lewandowski."[37] CBS News reported that Manafort would run the campaign from April forward and that Lewandowski had been "reduced to a role that amounts to body man and scheduler."[38] However, an April 26 Politico report claimed that Trump was displeased with the direction Manafort was taking the campaign and was "taking steps to return some authority to Manafort’s chief internal rival, campaign manager Corey Lewandowski." The article went on to note, "But campaign insiders say it has become increasingly clear that Trump, for all his boasts about his ability to become more 'presidential,' is simply unwilling or perhaps unable to follow through, and resents efforts to transform him."[39]
Vice presidential search
On May 10, 2016, after Trump became the presumptive Republican nominee, The Washington Post reported that Lewandowski would oversee the campaign's vice presidential search. Citing two Republicans close the campaign, the paper reported that Lewandowski was "the point person for all related questions and meetings" about the vice presidential vetting process. These responsibilities were in addition to his work as the campaign manager. Other aides—like Paul Manafort, Michael Glassner, and Rick Wiley—were tasked with national field organization and planning for the Republican National Convention.[40]
General election activity
Comments on Trump University
- See also: Trump University
In June 2016, Lewandowski commented to CBS News that Trump had "nothing to apologize for" in regards to his comments on the Mexican heritage of the judge in the Trump University lawsuit. Lewandowski said:[41]
| “ | Well there is nothing to apologize for. What you have is if you go to the website 98percentapproval.com you’ll see that 98% of the people who took his courses gave it the highest marks possible. And the courses were designed by Ivy League professors who put these in place and people are exceptionally happy about this, particularity the lead plaintiff in the case, who filed this case — gave it the highest glowing remarks possible. She did a video testimonial on this case. When the plaintiff’s attorneys found that she had done that, she removed herself form the case. This case should have been dismissed on summery [sic] judgement a long time ago. And we question the impartiality of the judge based on all those factors. That’s all we are talking about in this case.[42] | ” |
Dismissal from campaign
On June 20, 2016, The New York Times reported that Lewandowski had been dismissed as campaign manager. The campaign's spokeswoman, Hope Hicks, stated, "The Donald J. Trump Campaign for President, which has set a historic record in the Republican primary having received almost 14 million votes, has today announced that Corey Lewandowski will no longer be working with the campaign. The campaign is grateful to Corey for his hard work and dedication and we wish him the best in the future."[3] The dismissal, according to the Times, was part of the campaign's transition toward the general election.[3]
Influence after dismissal
After he was dismissed, Lewandowski remained a supporter of and confidante to Trump, still offering advice from a distance and listening in on conference calls. On September 14, 2016, Politico reported that Lewandowski's unofficial role in the Trump campaign expanded after Paul Manafort resigned his position as campaign chair in August 2016. Politico wrote:[43]
| “ | Even in exile, Lewandowski maintained a close relationship with Trump. But in recent weeks, with the absence of a leadership team actively committed to boxing him out, he has reengaged with the operation more broadly, listening in on morning conference calls and conferring regularly with campaign CEO Stephen Bannon and deputy campaign manager David Bossie — an old friend who persuaded Trump to hire Lewandowski last year — according to Republicans close to the campaign.[42] | ” |
The Washington Post reported that Lewandowski was still being paid by the Trump campaign at that same time. His consulting firm, Green Monster Consulting, continued to receive $20,000 each month in severance while Lewandowski was a commentator for CNN.[44] On September 29, 2016, the campaign paid the remainder of its contractual obligations.[45]
New Hampshire delegate
Lewandowski served as a delegate from New Hampshire to the Republican National Convention in July. He was pledged to vote for Trump.[46] New Hampshire state election laws allow the presidential candidates themselves to select their pledged delegates from the state.
Delegate rules
In New Hampshire, presidential candidates were required to submit lists of preferred delegates prior to the state primary election on February 9, 2016. After the primary, if a candidate was allocated any delegates, he or she was allowed to select their official delegate slate from the list they submitted prior to the primary. New Hampshire delegates were bound on all ballots. Delegates were to be released and unbound if a candidate "withdraws" from the race.
New Hampshire primary results
| New Hampshire Republican Primary, 2016 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes | Delegates | |
 Donald Trump |
35.6% | 100,639 | 11 | |
| John Kasich | 15.9% | 44,878 | 4 | |
| Ted Cruz | 11.7% | 33,214 | 3 | |
| Jeb Bush | 11.1% | 31,341 | 3 | |
| Marco Rubio | 10.6% | 29,991 | 2 | |
| Chris Christie | 7.5% | 21,082 | 0 | |
| Carly Fiorina | 4.2% | 11,774 | 0 | |
| Ben Carson | 2.3% | 6,503 | 0 | |
| Rand Paul* | 0.7% | 1,931 | 0 | |
| Total Write-ins | 0.5% | 1,398 | 0 | |
| Jim Gilmore | 0% | 134 | 0 | |
| Totals | 282,885 | 23 | ||
| Source: New Hampshire Secretary of State | ||||
Delegate allocation
New Hampshire is expected to have 23 delegates at the 2016 Republican National Convention. Of this total, six will be district-level delegates (three for each of the state's two congressional districts). District-level delegates were allocated on a proportional basis; each candidate who won at least 10 percent of the statewide vote was entitled to receive a share of New Hampshire's district delegates.[48]
Of the remaining 17 delegates, 14 will serve at large. At-large delegates were allocated on a proportional basis; each candidate who won at least 10 percent of the statewide vote was entitled to receive a share of the state's at-large delegates. In addition, three national party leaders (identified on the chart below as RNC delegates) will serve as bound delegates to the Republican National Convention. The RNC delegates are required to pledge their support to the winner of the New Hampshire primary.[48]
Post-2016 election
Avenue Strategies
In December 2016, after Lewandowski was told he would not be offered a role in the Trump administration, he and former Trump advisor Barry Bennett formed a strategy and lobbying organization, Avenue Strategies.[5] In late April 2017, the firm created another organization, Washington East West Political Strategies, and appealed to Eastern European connections using potential connections to Trump as a selling point. Lewandowski himself had not registered as a lobbyist at that time.[49] On May 4, 2017, Politico reported that Lewandowski was leaving the firm. The site reported that Lewandowski left because of scrutiny surrounding his connections to Trump. He told the site that he had "no affiliation or involvement" with Washington East West Political Strategies or its work in Eastern Europe.[6]
One America News Network
In January 2017, Lewandowski joined One America News Network, a conservative news platform, as a commentator.[50] The Daily Beast reported that he was fired in July 2017 after appearing frequently on other cable news networks.[51]
Lewandowski Strategic Advisors
On August 1, 2017, The New York Times reported that Lewandowski had founded an advisory firm weeks after leaving Avenue Strategies. According to the paper's report, the firm would not employ any registered lobbyists but would advise corporate clients on strategies related to working with the federal government. The paper also reported that Lewandowski's firm's first client was Community Choice Financial, a payday lending organization.[1]
Media
See also
- Donald Trump presidential campaign, 2016
- Americans for Prosperity
- Alleged altercation between Michelle Fields and Trump campaign manager
- Alleged altercations involving Corey Lewandowski at Donald Trump campaign events
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 The New York Times, "Trump Loyalist Mixes Businesses and Access at ‘Advisory’ Firm," August 1, 2017
- ↑ Politico, "Corey Lewandowski joins conservative news channel OANN as commentator," January 12, 2017
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 The New York Times, "Donald Trump Parts Ways With Corey Lewandowski, His Campaign Manager," June 20, 2016
- ↑ CNN Money, "CNN hires Corey Lewandowski as political commentator," June 23, 2016
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Politico, "Lewandowski out of Trump administration, forms consulting firm," December 21, 2016
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Politico, "Lewandowski quits lobbying firm," May 4, 2017
- ↑ Lowell Sun, "On the stump for Trump: Lowell native Corey Lewandowski running presidential campaign," July 24, 2015
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 LinkedIn, "Corey Lewandowski," accessed June 26, 2015
- ↑ Americans for Prosperity, "New Hampshire State Director Corey R. Lewandowski," accessed June 26, 2015
- ↑ The Guardian, "Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign manager is no stranger to controversy," August 20, 2015
- ↑ Guidestar, "New England Seafood Producers' Association IRS 990," accessed June 26, 2015
- ↑ Americans for Prosperity, "About Americans for Prosperity," accessed June 26, 2015
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Washington Post, "Ted Cruz and Rand Paul are the big draws at the Freedom Summit," April 12, 2014
- ↑ Washington Post, "Trump says he is serious about 2016 bid, is hiring staff and delaying TV gig," February 25, 2015
- ↑ Breitbart News, "Donald Trump Reportedly Launching Presidential Exploratory Committee," March 17, 2015
- ↑ The Wall Street Journal, "Donald Trump Enters 2016 Presidential Race," June 16, 2015
- ↑ P2016, "Donald J. Trump for President, Inc.," accessed June 26, 2015
- ↑ New Hampshire Public Radio, "Meet Corey Lewandowski, the Granite Stater Running Donald Trump's Campaign," July 27, 2015
- ↑ Politico, "The man behind Trump's run," July 22, 2015
- ↑ The Wall Street Journal, "Meet the Man Who Helps Trump Be Trump," February 11, 2016
- ↑ NPR, "Meet Donald Trump's Alter Ego," February 22, 2016
- ↑ Washington Post, "The inside story of Trump campaign’s connections to a big-money super PAC," October 18, 2015
- ↑ CNNMoney, "How Donald Trump broke Fox News' debate rules," March 5, 2016
- ↑ Politico, "Trump campaign manager gets rough with Breitbart reporter," March 9, 2016
- ↑ Breitbart News, "POLITICO: Trump Campaign Manager Gets Rough with Breitbart Reporter," March 9, 2016
- ↑ Independent Journal, "EXCLUSIVE: Reporter Files Police Report Against Trump Campaign Manager Corey Lewandowski," March 11, 2016
- ↑ CNBC, "Trump campaign manager arrested, charged with battery of reporter," March 29, 2016
- ↑ Politico, "Trump campaign manager will not be prosecuted, sources say," April 13, 2016
- ↑ NBC News, "Authorities Drop Battery Charges Against Trump Campaign Manager Corey Lewandowski," April 14, 2016
- ↑ The Blaze, "Michelle Fields to Pursue Civil Action Against Trump and His Campaign Manager for Defamation," April 13, 2016
- ↑ Fox News, "Trump campaign manager faces new criticism about grabbing someone at event," March 20, 2016
- ↑ ABC News, "Trump Campaign Denies Campaign Manager Corey Lewandowski Grabbed Protester," March 20, 2016
- ↑ Real Clear Politics, "Trump on Lewandowski Going Into Crowd: "I Give Him Credit For Having Spirit," March 20, 2016
- ↑ 34.0 34.1 34.2 Politico, "Trump campaign shrinks Lewandowski's role," April 2, 2016
- ↑ Politico, "Trump aide Paul Manafort: 'I work directly for the boss,'" April 8, 2016
- ↑ The Washington Post, "Blundering Trump is running out of material," April 8, 2016
- ↑ Politico, "Trump orders new campaign hierarchy, spending plan," April 18, 2016
- ↑ CBS News, "Donald Trump reorganizes campaign just before big state primaries," April 18, 2016
- ↑ Politico, "Trump rejects new adviser’s push to make him ‘presidential,’" April 26, 2016
- ↑ The Washington Post, "Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski will oversee the vice-presidential search," May 10, 2016
- ↑ Breitbart News, "Corey Lewandowski: Trump Has ‘Nothing to Apologize For,’" June 12, 2016
- ↑ 42.0 42.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Politico, "The return of Corey Lewandowski," September 14, 2016
- ↑ The Washington Post, "Confirmed: Trump campaign is controlling every word of prominent CNN commentator," September 21, 2016
- ↑ Politico, "Trump campaign pays off Corey Lewandowski contract," September 29, 2016
- ↑ The Washington Post, "Trump campaign manager chosen as one of his convention delegates from N.H.," March 16, 2016
- ↑ Politico, "Rand Paul drops out of White House race," February 3, 2016
- ↑ 48.0 48.1 Republican National Committee, "2016 Presidential Nominating Process," accessed October 6, 2015
- ↑ Politico, "Lewandowski’s firm appears to offer Trump meetings," April 28, 2017
- ↑ Politico, "Corey Lewandowski joins conservative news channel OANN as commentator," January 12, 2017
- ↑ The Daily Beast, "Corey Lewandowski Has Been Fired From The One America News Network," July 31, 2017
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||
