Examine individual changes

'{{Short description|American political consultant}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2024}} {{Infobox person |name = Chris LaCivita |birth_name = Christopher Joseph LaCivita |birth_date = {{birth year and age|1966}} |birth_place = [[McKeesport, Pennsylvania|McKeesport]], [[Pennsylvania]], U.S. |death_date = |death_place = |education = [[Virginia Commonwealth University]] ([[Bachelor of Science|BS]]) |party = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] |spouse = Catherine |children = 2 |module = {{Infobox military person |embed = yes |allegiance = {{flag|United States}} |branch = {{flag|United States Marine Corps}} |serviceyears = ~1989–1991 |rank = [[Sergeant (United States)|Sergeant]] |battles = [[Gulf War]] |awards = [[Purple Heart]]}} }} '''Christopher Joseph LaCivita''' (born 1966) is an American [[political consultant]] and former partner in FP1 Strategies, a national public-affairs and campaign firm, known primarily for his smear campaign against 2004 Democratic Presidential nominee John F. Kerry <ref>https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2024/02/chris-lacivita-ran-one-of-american-politics-most-notorious-smear-campaigns-now-hes-working-for-trump/</ref> as well as his service as senior adviser to [[Donald Trump 2024 presidential campaign|Donald Trump's 2024 presidential campaign]].<ref name="fp1strategies.com">{{Cite web |url=http://fp1strategies.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Lacivita_release.pdf |title=FP1 Expands Team With New Partner Chris LaCivita |access-date=February 22, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190223131445/https://fp1strategies.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Lacivita_release.pdf |archive-date=February 23, 2019 |url-status=dead }}</ref> <ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Isenstadt |first=Alex |title=Trump prepares to open next phase of 2024 campaign in South Carolina |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2023/01/12/trump-2024-campaign-south-carolina-00077612 |access-date=March 3, 2023 |website=POLITICO |date=January 12, 2023 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Lowell |first=Hugo |date=January 13, 2023 |title=Trump to ramp up efforts to secure 2024 Republican nomination after slow start |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/jan/13/trump-events-secure-2024-republican-nomination |access-date=April 19, 2023 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> LaCivita was previously best known as a media advisor for the [[Swift Boat Veterans]], an independent-expenditure group credited with a significant impact on the [[U.S. presidential election, 2004|2004 presidential election]] by advancing controversial charges about [[John Kerry]]'s military record, described by some as a smear campaign. Since 2004, he has been president of the firm Advancing Strategies LLC. He was formerly with [[Crosslink Strategy]], a conservative lobbying and political consulting firm founded by Terry Nelson, a former [[John McCain]] advisor and also a founding partner of FP1. ==Early life and education== LaCivita was born in [[McKeesport, Pennsylvania]], and grew up in the [[Richmond, Virginia]] area, graduating from [[Midlothian High School (Virginia)|Midlothian High School]]. His father was a first-generation [[Italian Americans|Italian-American]] and his mother was a first generation [[Irish Americans|Irish-American]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hester |first=Wesley P. |date=June 12, 2011 |title=Powhatan's LaCivita a political warrior on national stage |url=https://richmond.com/news/powhatans-lacivita-a-political-warrior-on-national-stage/article_876c7a9b-a658-5ca7-a6ee-18792fc00c38.html |access-date=March 19, 2022 |website=Richmond Times-Dispatch |language=en}}</ref> He received his [[bachelor's degree]] in [[political science]] from [[Virginia Commonwealth University]] in 1989.<ref>April 2002, ''Campaigns & Elections'', "Rising Political Stars of 2002".</ref> He joined the [[US Marine Corps]] and was awarded a [[Purple Heart]] for wounds received while serving in the [[Gulf War|Persian Gulf War]] in 1991; he was discharged as a [[Sergeant (United States)#Marine Corps|sergeant]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.richmond.com/news/about-chris-lacivita/article_99988f8e-b56a-5c54-b201-ad0cc0492deb.html |access-date=August 8, 2017 |title=About Chris LaCivita |newspaper=[[Richmond Times-Dispatch|Times-Dispatch]]|date=June 12, 2011}}</ref> After that he taught part-time at [[Regent University]] and began a new career as a political consultant. ==Early career in Virginia politics== Active in [[Republican party (United States)|Republican]] politics following his Gulf War service, LaCivita did field work for [[George F. Allen]] in [[central Virginia]] during his 1991 congressional campaign, then went with him to Capitol Hill, serving as a [[legislative assistant]] on [[Foreign policy of the United States|foreign]] and [[Defense policy of the United States|defense policy]].<ref name="autogenerated1999">{{cite news|first=R.H.|last=Melton|date=June 2, 1999|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |title=Virginia Notebook; Out of GOP Frying Pan, Into 2000 Campaign Fire}}</ref> When Allen ran for [[Governor of Virginia]] in [[1993 Virginia gubernatorial election|1993]], LaCivita organized in the Richmond area, [[Southside (Virginia)|Southside]] and central Virginia, then was appointed to serve as an assistant secretary of administration.<ref>June 3, 1999, ''Associated Press'' "GOP director to manage Allen's campaign".</ref> He left state service in 1995 to help run Allen's [[political action committee]], assisting legislative races that year (wherein the GOP captured a tie in the [[Senate of Virginia|State Senate]]). LaCivita was named executive director of the [[Republican Party of Virginia|state Republican Party]] in 1996, after Allen's allies won control of the RPV.<ref name="autogenerated1999"/> LaCivita ran the state party organization, as [[James S. Gilmore|Jim Gilmore]] succeeded Allen as governor in 1997, acting as overseer of 'internal squabbles,' but going on later to capture control of both houses of the [[Virginia General Assembly|General Assembly]] in [[1999 Virginia state elections|1999]].<ref>{{cite news|first=R.H.|last=Melton|date=February 15, 1999|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |title=Va. GOP's Power Quest Beset by Internal Squabbles}}</ref> LaCivita and former gubernatorial chief of staff Jay Timmons worked on Allen's successful campaign in the [[2000 United States Senate election in Virginia|2000 Senate election]] against two-term [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] [[Chuck Robb]], a race he won with 52% of the vote.<ref name="autogenerated1999" /><ref>{{cite news |last=Schapiro |first=Jeff |date=October 22, 2000 |title=Skull Sessions Set Course Of Campaigns; Political Friends Sounding Boards |newspaper=[[Richmond Times-Dispatch]] |location=Richmond, Virginia}}</ref> In [[2001 Virginia gubernatorial election|2001]], LaCivita was drafted in the final two months to shore up the losing campaign of Republican [[Attorney General of Virginia|Attorney General]] [[Mark Earley]] for governor against Democrat [[Mark Warner]].<ref>{{cite journal|first=David|last=Beiler|date=December 2001 – January 2002|journal=Campaigns & Elections|title=Mark Warner's Five-Year Plan}}</ref> As [[Fred Barnes (journalist)|Fred Barnes]] wrote:<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Fred|last=Barnes|date=October 29, 2001|magazine=[[The Weekly Standard]]|location=Washington, D.C.|title=Earley to Bed? Democrat Mark Warner threatens the GOP hold on Virginia}}</ref><blockquote>"Earley wasted the summer and didn't find a message until September -- after party officials dispatched Chris LaCivita, the political director of the [[National Republican Senatorial Committee]], to run his campaign. The message, it turns out, is a hardy perennial for Republicans: taxes." </blockquote>Earley, down by 13 points in mid-summer, closed the gap late in the campaign but eventually lost by five points, 52%-47%, to Warner.<ref>November 4, 2001, ''Washington Times'', Stephen Dinan, "Earley camp optimistic after poll shows closer race".</ref> == National political career == === 2000s === During the 2002 midterm elections, LaCivita served as the political director of the [[National Republican Senatorial Committee]] (NRSC) under the chairmanship of Senator [[Bill Frist]].<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Rachel|last=Van Dongen|date=January 8, 2001|magazine=[[Roll Call (magazine)|Roll Call]]|title=In With the New: Allen Campaign Chief Joins NRSC As Political Director}}</ref> That November, the GOP scored a net gain of two Senate seats, recapturing control of the upper chamber. While at the NRSC, LaCivita was the direct supervisor of [[James Tobin (political operative)|James Tobin]], another former employee of the DCI Group. In 2005, Tobin was sentenced to 10 months in [[federal prison]] for his role in the [[2002 New Hampshire Senate election phone jamming scandal|2002 NH phone jamming scandal]] for his activities during that campaign; LaCivita was on Tobin's witness list but never called. [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrats]], who sought testimony from LaCivita for a civil suit tied to the same incident, recently settled that civil suit out of court. Tobin's conviction was overturned on appeal. In 2003, LaCivita served as president of [[Progress for America]], later giving that role to former DCI employee [[Brian McCabe (political consultant)|Brian McCabe]] while LaCivita became its executive director. LaCivita at one time worked for the Republican political consulting firm [[DCI Group]], which had close ties both to [[Progress for America]] and [[Swift Boat Veterans for Truth]]. During the [[2004 United States presidential election|2004 US presidential campaign]], LaCivita served as consultant and principal media advisor to the Swift Boat Veterans, writing and producing the group's memorable (and controversial) commercials in association with [[Stevens Reed Curcio & Potholm|Rick Reed]]. At the same time, LaCivita consulted for the NRSC, now headed by former client [[George Allen (U.S. politician)|George Allen]], as it scored a net gain of four Senate seats in the 2004 cycle. LaCivita continued his independent-expenditure work in 2005, producing ads in support of Attorney General [[Jerry Kilgore (politician)|Jerry Kilgore]] in his unsuccessful gubernatorial campaign. In 2005 and 2006, LaCivita was a senior strategist for [[Vern Buchanan]], who won a contested primary and general election in [[Florida's 13th congressional district]] by less than 400 votes. In the [[2006 Florida gubernatorial election]], LaCivita ran an independent organization, Floridians for a Better and Brighter Future, in support of [[Charlie Crist]]'s Republican primary campaign against [[Tom Gallagher]].{{Citation needed|date=March 2023}} In 2006, LaCivita was a general consultant for [[Bob Corker]]'s successful [[2006 United States Senate election in Tennessee|campaign for Senate in Tennessee]]. As Corker lagged in the polls behind Democratic opponent [[Harold Ford]], LaCivita was later replaced by Tom Ingram who engineered a late-in-the-game turnaround to narrowly win the general election. In 2007, LaCivita told reporters that the GOP could silence the press [[2006 Dismissal of U.S. Attorneys controversy|uproar over the sudden dismissal of eight US Attorneys]] by promoting stories about the most extreme among anti-Bush activists. "When are we going to make it about [[Code Pink]] and the rest of the liberal weirdos controlling the Democrat agenda?" he asked.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Allen |first1=Mike |last2=Martin |first2=Jonathan |date=March 14, 2007 |title=Capital Turns Cold for Bush |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2007/03/capital-turns-cold-for-bush-003155 |access-date=March 3, 2023 |website=POLITICO |language=en}}</ref> That fall, he guided [[Jill Holtzman Vogel]] to her initial victory in the [[Winchester, Virginia|Winchester]]-based Virginia State Senate contest.{{Citation needed|date=March 2023}} During the [[2008 United States presidential election|2008 presidential campaign]], LaCivita and [[Tony Feather]] launched a new [[501(c)4]] issues advocacy group, the [[American Issues Project]], after a series of meetings with other Swift Boat donors. In August 2008, AIP began airing ads in battleground states seeking to raise questions about Democratic Party presidential nominee Senator [[Barack Obama]]'s ties to former student radical [[William Ayers]].<ref>{{cite news |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |first1=Matthew |last1=Mosk |first2=Chris |last2=Cillizza |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/13/AR2008091302270.html |title=Group with Swift Boat alumni readies ads attacking Obama |date=September 13, 2008 |access-date=August 8, 2017}}</ref> The ad may be viewed [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptuohzeHEsE here]. The American Issues Project had a sole donor, [[Harold Simmons]], an 87-year-old [[Dallas]] billionaire who was also a principal donor, along with [[T. Boone Pickens]], to the Swiftboat Veterans for Truth PAC. On October 10, 2008, a campaign finance watchdog group, [[Democracy 21]], filed a complaint with the [[Federal Elections Commission]] about the group's alleged violations of election campaign law.<ref>{{cite web|title=Democracy 21 Files Complaint Today Calling on FEC to Investigate Whether Two Outside Groups Illegally Spent Soft Money to Influence the 2008 Presidential Election|url=http://www.democracy21.org/archives/issues/fec/democracy-21-files-complaint-today-calling-on-fec-to-investigate-whether-two-outside-groups-illegally-spent-soft-money-to-influence-the-2008-presidential-election/|website=Democracy21|access-date=December 10, 2017|date=October 10, 2008|archive-date=December 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171210232109/http://www.democracy21.org/archives/issues/fec/democracy-21-files-complaint-today-calling-on-fec-to-investigate-whether-two-outside-groups-illegally-spent-soft-money-to-influence-the-2008-presidential-election/|url-status=dead}}</ref> That went nowhere{{According to whom|date=June 2024}} and in 2009 AIP aired a second national TV spot (colloquially called the "[[Jesus]]" ad) targeting the Obama stimulus package as unprecedented in its size and wastefulness{{Citation needed|date=June 2024}}. The ad may be viewed [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K90Zpjvdlko here]. The spots were produced by [[Larry McCarthy]] under LaCivita's direction.{{Citation needed|date=June 2024}} In [[2009 Virginia Attorney General election|2009]], LaCivita was the general strategist for State Senator [[Ken Cuccinelli]]'s successful bid for Attorney General of Virginia. He also guided [[Jeffrey McWaters]] to victory in a December special election for Virginia State Senate, occasioned by the departure of longtime incumbent [[Ken Stolle]] in Virginia Beach.{{Citation needed|date=March 2023}} ==== Swift boat advertisement campaign ==== During the [[2004 presidential race]], LaCivita was one of the operatives behind a television advertisement campaign run by [[Swift Vets and POWs for Truth|Swift Boat Veterans for Truth]],<ref name="playbook">{{cite news |last=Herb |first=Jeremy |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2024/08/09/politics/tim-walz-service-swift-boat-attacks/index.html |title=With 'Swift Boat' architect at the helm, Trump campaign uses familiar playbook against Walz |work=[[CNN]] |date=August 9, 2024 |access-date=August 9, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Pangelly |first=Martin |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/aug/31/trump-super-pac-chris-lacivita-swiftboat-joe-biden |title=Republican who 'swift boated' John Kerry to run pro-Trump Super Pac |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=August 31, 2020 |access-date=August 9, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Freedlander |first=David |url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/trump-campaign-chris-lacivita-swift-boat-veteran.html |title=Chris LaCivita, the Swiftboater Coming for Biden |work=[[New York (magazine)]] |date=February 22, 2024 |access-date=August 9, 2024}}</ref> a group financed by Texas multimillionaires [[T. Boone Pickens]], [[Bob J. Perry]],<ref name="nyt_2008">{{cite news |last=Zernike |first=Kate |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/30/us/politics/30swift.html |title=Veterans Long to Reclaim the Name 'Swift Boat' |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=June 30, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081211162556/https://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/30/us/politics/30swift.html |archive-date=December 11, 2008 |url-status=live |access-date=August 9, 2024}}</ref><ref name="AP_2004">{{cite news |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna5844156 |title='Swift Boat' backer is major political financier |work=[[Associated Press]] |via=[[NBC News]] |date=August 28, 2004 |access-date=August 9, 2024}}</ref> and [[Harlan Crow]] via the [[Progress for America Voter Fund]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Bennett |first=Laurie |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/lauriebennett/2012/08/31/harlan-crows-political-contributions-take-many-paths/ |title=Harlan Crow's Political Contributions Take Many Paths |work=[[Forbes]] |date=August 12, 2012 |access-date=August 9, 2024}}</ref> The advertisements falsely attacked [[John Kerry]]'s military record.<ref>{{cite news |last=Borger |first=Julian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/guardianweekly/story/0,,1291600,00.html |title=Smear master sets sail in dirty waters |work=[[The Guardian Weekly]] |access-date=August 9, 2024}}</ref> They were contradicted by Kerry's crewmen and Navy records.<ref>{{cite web |last=Brooks |first=Jackson |url=https://www.factcheck.org/2004/08/republican-funded-group-attacks-kerrys-war-record/ |title=Republican-funded Group Attacks Kerry's War Record |work=[[FactCheck.org]] |date=August 22, 2004 |access-date=August 9, 2024}}</ref> The discredited campaign led to the term [[swiftboating|swiftboating]] entering the political vocabulary to define smear campaigns.<ref name="playbook"/><ref name="nyt_2008"/> === 2010s === In the summer of 2010, LaCivita returned to the [[National Republican Senatorial Committee|NRSC]] as its political director, the same post he held in 2002.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Shear |first=Michael D. |date=October 20, 2010 |title=Campaigns Don't Coordinate. Really. |url=https://archive.nytimes.com/thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/20/campaigns-dont-coordinate-really/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101024205021/http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/20/campaigns-dont-coordinate-really/?hp |archive-date=October 24, 2010 |access-date=February 14, 2023 |website=The Caucus |language=en}}</ref> Under his direction, the GOP scored a net gain of five Senate seats in the November 2010 general elections. Throughout 2010, LaCivita consulted for several GOP congressional campaigns, most prominently that of State Senator [[Robert Hurt (Virginia politician)|Robert Hurt]] who was elected in [[Virginia's 5th Congressional District]] over Democratic incumbent [[Tom Perriello]]. LaCivita aided businessman [[Scott Rigell]] in his successful bid for election in [[Virginia's 2nd Congressional District]] over incumbent [[Glenn Nye]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://bearingdrift.com/2010/03/01/chris-lacivita-joins-scott-rigell-campaign/ | title=Chris LaCivita Joins Scott Rigell Campaign &#124; Bearing Drift | date=March 2010 }}</ref> But his client in [[Missouri's 3rd congressional district]], [[Ed Martin (Missouri politician)|Ed Martin]], fell short in his bid to unseat Democratic Rep. [[Russ Carnahan]]. In 2011, Virginia Republicans succeeded in ousting two Democratic State Senators, gaining a 20–20 tie (and an effective majority with GOP [[Lieutenant Governor of Virginia|Lieutenant Governor]] [[Bill Bolling]] acting in their favor). LaCivita was the strategist for [[Bill Stanley (politician)|Bill Stanley]],<ref>{{cite web | url=http://thebullelephant.com/decision-time-chairman-bill-stanley-fifth-district/ | title=Decision time for Chairman Bill Stanley in the Fifth District – the Bull Elephant | date=May 7, 2014 }}</ref> who defeated longtime Democratic incumbent [[Roscoe Reynolds]] in a race between two Southwest Virginia senators thrown together by redistricting. Stanley prevailed by a margin of 644 votes, 46.80% to 45.54%.<ref name="sbe2011">{{cite web | title = November 2011 General Election Results | publisher = Virginia State Board of Elections | url = https://www.voterinfo.sbe.virginia.gov/election/DATA/2011/EB178FD6-875D-4B0D-A295-900A0482F523/Official/7_p1_s.shtml | accessdate = May 4, 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141219140009/https://www.voterinfo.sbe.virginia.gov/election/DATA/2011/EB178FD6-875D-4B0D-A295-900A0482F523/Official/7_p1_s.shtml | archive-date = December 19, 2014 | url-status = dead }}</ref> LaCivita helmed the 2012 Senatorial campaign of [[Linda McMahon]] in Connecticut, losing to Congressman [[Chris Murphy]].<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/03/nyregion/linda-e-mcmahon-has-spent-nearly-100-million-in-senate-races.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0 | title=Personal Cost for 2 Senate Bids: $100 Million | newspaper=The New York Times | date=November 3, 2012 | last1=Applebome | first1=Peter }}</ref> At the same time, he guided [[Robert Hurt (politician)|Robert Hurt]] to his first re-election in [[Virginia's 5th Congressional District]], defeating challenger [[John W. Douglass|John Douglass]] by 12 points.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Virginia State Board of Elections |url=http://www.sbe.virginia.gov/cms/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100715015320/http://www.sbe.virginia.gov/cms/index.html |archive-date=2010-07-15 |access-date=2024-03-15}}</ref> LaCivita was a consultant to black conservative Congressman [[Allen West (politician)|Allen West]] of Florida,<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1012/82498.html| title = Allen West plagued by scam PACs - POLITICO| website = [[Politico]]| date = October 17, 2012}}</ref> who was defeated for re-election in a heavily redistricted seat.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/2012/10/31/164055678/allen-west-faces-challenge-after-redistricting|title=Allen West Faces Challenge After Redistricting|website=[[NPR]]}}</ref> LaCivita was the chief strategist for the 2013 gubernatorial campaign of longtime client [[Ken Cuccinelli]] in Virginia.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2013/10/ken-cuccinelli-virginia-governor-race-98548.html|title = Cuccinelli seeks to fire up base|website = [[Politico]]| date=October 19, 2013 }}</ref> The conservative Attorney General, heavily outspent and behind in every public survey from July to November, battled to a surprisingly close finish<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2013/11/terry-mcauliffe-virginia-governor-2013-elections-99441_Page2.html|title = 2013 Virginia election results: Why Terry McAuliffe barely won|website = [[Politico]]}}</ref> against former Democratic Party chair [[Terry McAuliffe]], losing 45.2% to 47.7%, a margin of 56,000 votes of 2.2 million cast.<ref name="SBE_GOV">{{cite web|url=http://electionresults.virginia.gov/resultsSW.aspx?eid=7&type=SWR&map=CTY |title=Official Results - General Election - November 5, 2013 |publisher=Virginia State Board of Elections |access-date=November 7, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140225093154/http://electionresults.virginia.gov/resultsSW.aspx?eid=7&type=SWR&map=CTY |archive-date=February 25, 2014 }}</ref> Afterwards, LaCivita blamed the October 2013 government shutdown for slowing Cuccinelli's momentum in the final weeks, while praising the support received from the [[Republican National Committee]] and the [[Republican Governors Association]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/363424/top-cuccinelli-aide-blames-shutdown-defeat-robert-costa|title=Top Cuccinelli Aide Blames Shutdown for Defeat|website=[[National Review]]|date=November 7, 2013}}</ref> In September 2014, Senate Republicans tapped LaCivita and his ally, [[Corry Bliss]], to rescue the faltering campaign of incumbent [[Pat Roberts]] in [[Kansas]], facing a serious challenge from Independent candidate [[Greg Orman]] (following the withdrawal of the Democratic nominee, in what was heretofore a three-way general-election contest).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.politico.com/story/2014/09/pat-roberts-kansas-2014-election-110822.html|title = GOP scrambles to save Roberts|website = [[Politico]]| date=September 10, 2014 }}</ref> Roberts, behind or even with Orman in nearly all opinion polls that fall, won re-election with a surprisingly strong 53.1% to Orman's 42.5%.<ref>{{cite web|title=2014 Official Kansas General Election Results|url=http://www.sos.ks.gov/elections/14elec/2014%20General%20Election%20Official%20Results.pdf |access-date=December 29, 2014}}</ref> However, LaCivita's House candidate in [[Northern California]], [[Doug Ose]], fell just short of victory after a protracted count, losing by 1,400 votes to incumbent [[Ami Bera]]. In January 2015, LaCivita was named a senior adviser to the exploratory presidential campaign of Senator [[Rand Paul]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/rand-paul-taps-veteran-adviser-for-likely-2016-campaign-1421060641|title = Rand Paul Taps Veteran Adviser for Likely 2016 Campaign|newspaper = Wall Street Journal|date = January 12, 2015|last1 = Reinhard|first1 = Beth}}</ref> Paul suspended his campaign in February 2016, after finishing in fifth place out of 12 Republican candidates at the Iowa caucuses. In April 2016, the Republican National Committee hired LaCivita as a senior adviser for what was expected to be a fractious National Convention in Cleveland.<ref>{{Cite web |title=RNC launches grassroots assistance project |url=https://gop.com/rnc-launches-grassroots-assistance-project/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170622011205/https://www.gop.com/rnc-launches-grassroots-assistance-project/ |archive-date=2017-06-22 |access-date=2024-03-15}}</ref> His longtime former Virginia client, [[Ken Cuccinelli]], plotted a floor challenge to disrupt [[Donald Trump]]'s path to the nomination.<ref>{{cite web|first=Kyle|last=Cheney|website=[[Politico]]|publisher=[[Capitol News Company]]|location=Arlington, Virginia|date=July 17, 2016|title=Never Trump plots last stand at Cleveland convention|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2016/07/rnc-2016-never-trump-225664}}</ref> Working for RNC Chair [[Reince Priebus]], LaCivita and others were instrumental in shutting down the "[[Never Trump]]" movement's floor challenge on the first day of the convention. According to Kyle Cheney of [[Politico]], "The RNC and Trump campaign whips [went] to work. With the lists of insurgent delegates in hand, dozens of aides worked the convention floor for about 15 minutes, collecting their own set of withdrawal signatures. In the end, four of the initial 11 states saw enough delegates abandon the roll call effort to scuttle it."<ref>{{cite web|first=Kyle|last=Cheney|website=[[Politico]]|publisher=[[Capitol News Company]]|location=Arlington, Virginia|date=July 18, 2016|title=Chaos erupts on GOP convention floor after voice vote shuts down Never Trump forces|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2016/07/never-trump-delegates-have-support-needed-to-force-rules-vote-225716}}</ref> That November and December, LaCivita served as a national GOP liaison to Republicans named to the [[United States Electoral College|Electoral College]]. LaCivita was [[Pat McCrory]]'s strategist in his unsuccessful [[2016 North Carolina gubernatorial election|2016 campaign]] for reelection as [[Governor of North Carolina]].<ref>{{cite news |newspaper=[[The St. Augustine Record]] |access-date=August 8, 2017 |url=http://cphcmp.smu.edu/2004election/transcription-chris-lacivita-interview/2/ |title=LGBT law puts North Carolina governor in precarious position |date=April 20, 2016 |agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |newspaper=[[The News & Observer]] |title=McCrory names campaign team |first=Craig |last=Jarvis |date=January 7, 2016 |url=http://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/politics-columns-blogs/under-the-dome/article53497250.html |access-date=August 8, 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Roy Cooper Holds Thin Lead Over Gov. Pat McCrory in North Carolina |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |first=Richard |last=Fausset |date=November 10, 2016 |access-date=August 8, 2017 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/11/us/roy-cooper-holds-thin-lead-over-gov-pat-mccrory-in-north-carolina.html }}</ref> McCrory, outspent 2-to-1, lost by just 10,000 votes, 48.8% to 49.0% (confirmed only after a recount) to Democrat [[Roy Cooper]].<ref>Cook, Rhodes, ''America Votes 32'', Sage Publishing, 2017.</ref> In 2017, LaCivita was hired as a general consultant to the [[Kim Guadagno]] campaign for governor in New Jersey shortly before her victory in the Republican primary. Guadagno was defeated in the fall, part of the Democratic sweep in the Garden State.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2017/10/can_kim_guadagno_use_property_taxes_to_become_njs.html|title = Can Guadagno use property tax anger to become governor?|date = October 2017}}</ref> During 2017 and 2018, LaCivita served as a consultant to the [[American Action Network]] and [[Congressional Leadership Fund]], the SuperPAC allied with GOP Speaker [[Paul Ryan]], reuniting with longtime campaign partner Corry Bliss.<ref>{{cite web|first=Eliana|last=Johnson|website=[[Politico]]|publisher=[[Capitol News Company]]|location=Arlington, Virginia|date=June 23, 2017|title=The GOP's one-man fire brigade|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2017/06/23/corry-bliss-congressional-leadership-fund-239917}}</ref> In that capacity, he led several Independent Expenditure campaigns in House races,<ref>{{cite web|first=Eliana|last=Schneider|website=[[Politico]]|publisher=[[Capitol News Company]]|location=Arlington, Virginia|date=July 17, 2018|title='These guys need to wake up': House Republicans badly outraised in midterms|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2018/07/17/midterms-house-republicans-fundraising-728401}}</ref> including GOP victories for [[Will Hurd]] (Texas's 23rd Congressional District) and [[Andy Barr (American politician)|Andy Barr]] (Kentucky 6th Congressional). He was also a general consultant to [[Anthony Gonzalez (politician)|Anthony Gonzalez]], the former NFL wide receiver and Stanford graduate who won the Republican nomination and was elected Congressman from Ohio's 16th Congressional District.<ref>{{cite web|first=Henry J.|last=Gomez|website=[[BuzzFeed]]|date=March 25, 2018|title=It's A Former NFL Player Vs. A Donald Trump Acolyte In A Battle For The Soul Of The Republican Party In Ohio|url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/henrygomez/its-a-former-nfl-player-vs-a-donald-trump-acolyte-in-a}}</ref> In 2018, LaCivita advised Republican businessman and academic [[Bob Stefanowski]] in his insurgent campaign for governor of Connecticut.<ref>{{cite news|first=Neil|last=Vigdor|newspaper=[[Hartford Courant]]|date=October 21, 2018|title=Stefanowski Keeps Low Public Profile; Republican, So Far, Keeps Media At Arm's Length, Focuses On TV Ads, Invitation-Only Events}}</ref> First-time candidate Stefanowski triumphed unexpectedly, skipping the state GOP convention and qualifying for the primary by petition (first candidate in state history to do so). Stefanowski won the nomination in the contested five-way primary.<ref>Hartford Courant, August 22, 2018, "Stefanowski Hosts GOP Brass"</ref> Running close in polls throughout the fall despite the anti-Trump tide in a Democratic state,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.sacredheart.edu/media/sacredheart/instituteforpublicpolicy/GreatBlue---Sacred-Heart-University-Gubernatorial-Race-Poll-(November-2018).pdf |title=Institute for Public Policy 2018 Gubernatorial Race |access-date=February 22, 2019 |archive-date=July 24, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190724074321/https://www.sacredheart.edu/media/sacredheart/instituteforpublicpolicy/GreatBlue---Sacred-Heart-University-Gubernatorial-Race-Poll-(November-2018).pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> Stefanowski was defeated 46.2% to Ned Lamont's 49.4%.<ref>{{cite book|first=Rhodes|last=Cook|title=America Votes 32: Election Returns by State|publisher=[[SAGE Publications]]|location=Thousand Oaks, California|date=2017|isbn=978-1506368986|page=117}}</ref> LaCivita joined FP1 in January 2019.<ref name="fp1strategies.com"/> === 2020s === On August 31, 2020, LaCivita was announced as head of Preserve America, a new pro-Trump [[superPAC]] which began a $30-million advertising blitz in early September, focusing initially on the swing states of [[2020 United States presidential election in Florida|Florida]], [[2020 United States presidential election in North Carolina|North Carolina]], [[2020 United States presidential election in Pennsylvania|Pennsylvania]], [[2020 United States presidential election in Wisconsin|Wisconsin]], [[2020 United States presidential election in Arizona|Arizona]], [[2020 United States presidential election in Iowa|Iowa]], and [[2020 United States presidential election in Georgia|Georgia]].<ref>{{cite web |first=Alex|last=Isenstadt |title=Swift Boat mastermind to launch massive super PAC to boost Trump |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2020/08/31/swift-boat-mastermind-super-pac-trump-405519 |website=[[Politico]]|date=August 31, 2020 }}</ref> In [[2022 United States Senate election in Wisconsin|2022]], he was the general consultant for [[Ron Johnson]]'s re-election bid for United States Senator from [[Wisconsin]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/elections/2022/11/11/how-ron-johnson-took-the-reins-and-battled-his-way-to-a-third-term/69636572007/ | title=Journal Sentinel }}</ref> LaCivita currently serves as a senior advisor on [[Donald Trump 2024 presidential campaign|Donald Trump's 2024 presidential campaign]].<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Lowell |first=Hugo |date=January 13, 2023 |title=Trump to ramp up efforts to secure 2024 Republican nomination after slow start |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/jan/13/trump-events-secure-2024-republican-nomination |access-date=April 19, 2023 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> As of 2023, LaCivita was the chief strategist of Trump's [[MAGA Inc.]] Super PAC.<ref>Citations: * {{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2022/10/25/trump-campaign-lacivita/|title=Trump eyes longtime Virginia operative for senior 2024 campaign role |first1=Scherer |last1= Michael |first2=Dawney |last2=Josh |date=October 25, 2022|work=The Washington Post}} * {{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/saradorn/2022/10/26/trump-linked-super-pac-spends-millions-in-these-key-senate-races/|title=Trump-Linked Super PAC Spends Millions In These Key Senate Races|first=Sara|last=Dorn|date=October 26, 2022|website=Forbes}} * {{Cite web|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2022/09/23/trump-midterms-2024-pac-00058515|title=Trump to unleash millions in the midterms in possible prelude to 2024|first=Alex|last=Isenstadt|date=September 23, 2022|website=POLITICO}} * {{Cite web|url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/09/23/politics/donald-trump-allies-super-pac/index.html|title=Trump allies launch new super PAC to bolster GOP candidates in midterms as former President eyes 2024 campaign |first1= Orr |last1= Gabby |first2= Mercia |last2= Dan |first3= Schouten |last3= Fredreka|date=September 23, 2022|website=CNN}} * {{Cite magazine|first=Brian|last=Bennett|url=https://time.com/6236403/trump-2024-campaign-team-maga-fringe/|title=Insiders Question How Long Until Trump Swaps ‘Solid’ 2024 Team for MAGA Fringe|date=November 23, 2022|magazine=Time}} * {{Cite web|url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/3658054-top-trump-allies-launch-super-pac-to-back-endorsed-candidates/|title=Top Trump allies launch super PAC to back endorsed candidates|first=Brett|last=Samuels|date=September 23, 2022|work=The Hill}} * {{Cite web|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/did-donald-trump-already-forget-hes-running-for-president|title=Did Donald Trump Already Forget He's Running for President?|first1=Jake |last1=Lahut |first2=Zachary |last2=Petrizzo |date=December 9, 2022|work=The Daily Beast}}</ref> In March 2024 LaCivita also became Chief Operating Officer of the [[Republican National Committee]] following its takeover by Trump.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Aleem |first1=Zeeshan |title=Opinion {{!}} The first act in Trump's RNC takeover is a major purge |url=https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opinion/trump-rnc-layoffs-rcna142991 |access-date=30 May 2024 |work=MSNBC.com |date=13 March 2024 |language=en}}</ref> ==Personal life== LaCivita lives outside [[Richmond, Virginia]] with his wife, Catherine, and their two children. ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== *{{C-SPAN|1004370}} *{{C-SPAN|91601}} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Lacivita, Chris}} [[Category:1966 births]] [[Category:American people of Irish descent]] [[Category:American people of Italian descent]] [[Category:American political consultants]] [[Category:Donald Trump 2024 presidential campaign]] [[Category:Employees of the United States House of Representatives]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Military personnel from Virginia]] [[Category:People associated with the 2024 United States presidential election]] [[Category:People from McKeesport, Pennsylvania]] [[Category:People from Chesterfield County, Virginia]] [[Category:People from Powhatan County, Virginia]] [[Category:People from Richmond, Virginia]] [[Category:Regent University faculty]] [[Category:United States Marine Corps personnel of the Gulf War]] [[Category:United States Marines]] [[Category:Virginia Commonwealth University alumni]] [[Category:Virginia Republicans]]'