Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign is strengthening its communications team by bringing on two experienced operatives from the White House for the critical final three months of the race. This strategic move reflects the campaign’s focus on ramping up its messaging efforts as Harris continues to define her platform and counter her opponents.
Key Appointments: Ian Sams and Kristen Orthman
Ian Sams, the White House spokesperson for oversight and investigations, will join the Harris campaign as a senior spokesperson. Sams, known for his assertive and direct communication style, previously worked on Harris’ 2020 presidential bid. After the election, he joined the Department of Health and Human Services, where he played a key role in the administration’s pandemic response messaging. In 2023, Sams transitioned to the White House, where he was tasked with handling the administration’s responses to Republican-led investigations and Special Counsel inquiries.
Kristen Orthman, the principal deputy White House communications director, will also move to Harris’ campaign. She will serve as a senior adviser for strategic planning, bringing with her a wealth of experience from her work with prominent Democratic figures. Orthman’s career includes roles with former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Senator Elizabeth Warren’s 2020 presidential campaign, and the Democratic National Committee before she joined the Biden administration in 2023.
Shifts in the White House and Campaign Dynamics
These personnel changes are part of a broader shift as the White House diverts more resources to Harris’ campaign since she replaced President Joe Biden as the Democratic nominee. With the departure of senior adviser Anita Dunn earlier this month, Ben LaBolt, the White House communications director, and Herbie Ziskend—who will step into Orthman’s former role—are expected to lead the communications efforts in the West Wing for the remainder of Biden’s term.
The integration of Sams and Orthman into Harris’ already robust communications team, led by top press aides Brian Fallon and Kirsten Allen, signals a coordinated effort to sharpen the campaign’s messaging. This strategic bolstering of the communications team is essential as the campaign enters its final stretch, with Harris focusing on defining her vision for the future while countering attacks from her Republican opponents, including former President Donald Trump.
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Kamala Harris strengthens her campaign communications team by adding two seasoned White House operatives, Ian Sams and Kristen Orthman, for the final three-month push.
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