Don’t Miss: Top Member Moves & March Madness Winners

Today’s AAPC Insider features lessons from local races, insights on how women are shaping future elections, and the strategies, people, and trends driving political consulting forward.
 
Let’s dive in!
 
Anna Ross
Membership Marketing & Communications Manager
 
In this issue…
 • Member Moves
 • Why Local Campaigns Are the True Test of Political Strategy
 • Women’s Role in Shaping Future Elections
 • Interesting Reads
 • Don’t Miss

Member Moves
 • CN4 Partners welcomes new Vice Presidents Ansley Mendelson and Westley Bayas III.
 • Mike Frosolone joins Ohio and South Carolina based Democratic direct mail firm, JM2, as a Principal. Frosolone previously served as Michigan State Campaign Manager for the Harris-Walz campaign, DLCC Regional Political Director, and Senator Cory Booker's Iowa State Director on his 2020 presidential campaign.
 • William M. Klimon and Patrick Sternal have joined Holtzman Vogel, Kilmon as Partner and Sternal Of Counsel.
 • Savannah Zanic is joining Smart Media Group as Digital Director.
 • Red Horse Strategies has hired Michelle Ngwafon as Vice President, Aria Snedegar as Campaigns Associate, and Charlotte Cohen as Digital Associate.

Why Local Campaigns Are the True Test of Political Strategy

At the 2025 AAPC Southern Regional Conference, political consultants with boots on the ground in major southern cities gathered to talk shop—and drove home one key point: local races, especially mayoral ones, are the ultimate test of candidate quality, community connection, and campaign skill. Fred Hicks (HEG LLC), Michael Mulé (Surge Public Affairs), Mary-Patricia Wray (Top-Drawer Strategies), Maria O. Bánjọ, Esq. (Fulton County Commissioner Mo Ivory), and Scott Stone (Strategic Impact) shared hard-earned insights:
 
 1. Authenticity Wins – “Voters smell BS from a mile away,” said Mulé . Candidates who lean into who they truly are—and why they’re running—gain traction.
 2. Local Issues Outweigh National Drama – From infrastructure woes to crime spikes, local government failures can unite disparate voters across party lines.
 3. Field & Fundraising Require Focused Strategy – “In local races, the big fight is between whoever wants the TV commission and the rest of us,” said Wray. Efficient fundraising and layered media plans—including OTT and AI-driven donor targeting—are the new normal.
 4. Data Is Your Secret Weapon – Every speaker hammered home the need for microtargeting. As Mulé put it, “It’s not about reaching everyone. It’s about reaching the right ones.”
 5. Turnout is Tiny—Make Every Voter Count – In top-50 media markets with under 100,000 voters, smart allocation of dollars toward the most impactful tactics is critical.

Women’s Role in Shaping Future Elections

Amanda Iovino (WPA Intelligence) and Larissa Martinez (Women’s Public Leadership Network) explored how gender shapes voter perceptions, campaign strategies, and election outcomes—and why building a strong, visible pipeline of women consultants is just as critical as supporting women candidates in AAPC’s latest podcast episode—offering practical takeaways for consultants working to recruit, support, and elect women candidates.
 
🚀 Women Are Ready—If Asked
Many women hesitate to jump into a race until they’ve asked every question and feel fully prepared. That’s not hesitation—it’s diligence. “Women candidates will ask all of the questions and then jump in. The male candidates jump in and then ask all the questions,” said Iovino.
 
🔍 Where to Find Them
From PTAs to real estate boards, professional associations are fertile ground. “They’ve already shown that they want to be involved… the political arena is just another avenue for them to make community impact,” Martinez explained. Invest early, look beyond the usual suspects, and don’t wait for women to self-nominate—go recruit them. 🎧
 
Listen to the full episode here [ [link removed] ] to hear Amanda and Larissa’s insights in their own words—and get inspired to rethink how your team approaches candidate recruitment.

Interesting Reads

• Trump Extends TikTok's Sell-by Deadline Again [ [link removed] ]
 • AAPC Members Stop Harmful Provisions in Oregon Data Bill [ [link removed] ]

Don’t Miss

AAPC & Greater NY Chapter Networking Evening [ [link removed] ] | April 16 | New York, New York
The Political Consulting Event of the Year™ [ [link removed] ] | May 19-21 | Colorado Springs, CO
Midwest Regional Conference [ [link removed] ] | June 23-24 | Cincinnati, Ohio
Southwest Regional Conference | Austin, TX | September 15-16
California Regional Conference | Long Beach, CA | October 14
Atlanta Networking Luncheon | Atlanta GA | October 30
Pollies 26 | Amelia Island, FL | March 24-26, 2026
 
📢 Stay Connected: Opt into The AAPC Wire [ [link removed] ] for media opportunities & subscribe to our YouTube channel [ [link removed] ] for even more insights.
🎙️Subscribe and listen to AAPC’s Podcast! [ [link removed] ]

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