Biden administration hires UNC Charlotte grad and NC native

Danielle Battaglia
·2 min read
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A North Carolina native and UNC Charlotte graduate is joining the Biden administration as special assistant to the president and director of political outreach.

The White House announced Tori Taylor’s employment Thursday evening.

“Tori is an extraordinary leader who, over the past decade, has helped expand elected representation, empower voters, and strengthen our democracy,” said Emmy Ruiz, director of the Office of Political Strategy and Outreach. “We’re fortunate to have her joining our team at the White House at a really crucial time.”

Taylor has worked across 20 states, including as a political strategist. In North Carolina, she managed Rep. Kathy Manning’s 2018 campaign and served on the board of Majority Rising North Carolina. She also holds many awards from her work with Democrats and in politics in Charlotte and North Carolina, according to her LinkedIn. She was named one of the 30 Women under 30 Changing the 2016 Election by Fusion.

During the 2020 elections, Taylor worked as executive director for Swing Left, a grassroots Democratic political organization and as senior advisor to its affiliate nonprofit, Vote Forward, to raise over $27 million and organize more than 30 million voter contact actions in competitive states for the Biden-Harris campaign, 14 U.S. Senate races and dozens of U.S. House and state legislative races.

While working on Manning’s campaign in 2018, she also served as senior political adviser for the Democratic National Committee.

Her work has also included leadership roles for EMILY’s List, Center for American Progress, Democratic National Convention Committee, President Barack Obama’s reelection campaign and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s two presidential campaigns. She’s additionally served on the boards of NARAL Pro-Choice America, Swing Left and Vote Forward, and is a former executive committee member of the Democratic National Committee.

After graduating from UNC Charlotte, Taylor earned her master’s degree from The George Washington University. She now lives in Washington, D.C., with her partner and two dogs.

McClatchy Senior National Security and White House Correspondent Michael Wilner contributed reporting.