American lawyer and political consultant (born 1968)
Stephanie Cutter (born October 22, 1968) is an American communications and political consultant . She served as an advisor to President Barack Obama , President Bill Clinton , First Lady Michelle Obama and Vice President Kamala Harris .[ 1] Democrats including Ted Kennedy and John Kerry .[ 2]
In 2013, she co-founded Precision Strategies, a political consulting firm, with fellow Obama campaign alumni Jen O'Malley Dillon and Teddy Goff. During the 2020 election , she was producer of the all-virtual Democratic National Convention , and following Joe Biden 's victory, she was tapped to act as producer of the 2021 inauguration , which included mostly virtual festivities.[ 3]
Early life and education
Cutter was born in Taunton, Massachusetts , and was raised in nearby Raynham, Massachusetts .[ 4] Bridgewater-Raynham Regional High School in 1986.[ 5] Smith College and a J.D. degree from Georgetown Law School .[ 6] [ 2]
Career
Cutter began her career working as a junior aide to New York Governor Mario Cuomo prior to joining Bill Clinton 's 1992 election campaign .[ 7] Environmental Protection Agency and the Clinton administration, eventually becoming White House deputy communications director .[ 8] [ 9] impeachment .[ 10]
Beginning in 2001, she served as Communications Director for Senator Ted Kennedy .[ 11]
In November 2003, she was named communications director for the John Kerry campaign,[ 12] [ 9] [ 13] [ 14] Hyannis Port with what would turn out to be a deadly brain tumor , Cutter was the first call Kennedy's wife made after dialing 911 .[ 9]
Cutter joined Barack Obama 's first presidential campaign in 2008 as a senior advisor to Barack Obama and as the chief of staff to Michelle Obama .[ 15] [ 10] [ 8] GQ [ 10] [ 16]
She served as the Chief Spokesperson for the Obama-Biden Transition Project .[ 17] [ 2] Timothy Geithner 's counselor[ 18] Troubled Asset Relief Program and the A.I.G. bailout."[ 10] Supreme Court justice Sonia Sotomayor .[ 19] [ 9] [ 20] [ 10] GQ [ 21]
In fall of 2009, Cutter was under a fellowship at the Harvard Institute of Politics , when she received a request from Michelle Obama to provide strategic counsel. As part of her role, Cutter helped develop and launch Let's Move! , a public health initiative from the first lady's office.[ 9] [ 10]
In 2010, Cutter was named Assistant to the President for Special Projects, charged with managing communications and outreach strategy for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act .[ 22] Barack Obama .[ 23] [ 2]
In September 2011, the White House announced Cutter would leave her position as Deputy Senior Advisor to serve as deputy campaign manager for Obama for America.[ 24] [ 9] The New York Times [ 10] Steve Schmidt , a Republican strategist, stated that Cutter is "arguably the strongest player on either side out there now."[ 9]
CNN announced on June 26, 2013, that Cutter will join a new version of Crossfire [ 18] Newt Gingrich , S. E. Cupp , and Van Jones .[ 25] Crossfire after maternity leave. She remained with the series until it ended in July of that year.[ 26] [ 27] ABC News as a contributor, focusing on "political analysis and insight across ABC News programs and live events."[ 28]
In 2013, Cutter joined the board of the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate .[ 29] University of Chicago Institute of Politics as a founding board member.[ 30] Smithsonian Institution 's National Zoological Park and Conservation Biology Institute.[ 31]
In 2013, Cutter co-founded Precision Strategies with Jennifer O'Malley Dillon and Teddy Goff, all of whom had previously worked together on the Barack Obama 2012 presidential campaign team. The consulting firm, based in New York City and Washington, D.C. , reportedly worked with a variety of political and private clients, including Justin Trudeau ,[ 32] March for Our Lives ,[ 33] Earthjustice , the Independent Restaurant Coalition , and General Electric .[ 34] Boston -based private equity firm focused on media, communications and business services.[ 35] [ 36]
In 2020, Cutter was the Chief Program Executive for the 2020 Democratic National Convention , held for the first time as a virtual event rather than an in-person gathering due to the COVID-19 pandemic .[ 37] Joe Biden 's inauguration was held as a largely-virtual celebration due to COVID-19 virus cases in the United States. Cutter and Ricky Kirshner served as executive producers of the event.[ 38] [ 39] Celebrating America Outstanding Live Variety Special award at the 73rd Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards .[ 40] [ 41]
In August 2024, campaign officials for Kamala Harris 's 2024 presidential campaign announced that Cutter will be senior adviser for strategy messaging.[ 42] Ricky Kirshner served as co-executive producers of the 2024 Democratic National Convention .[ 43] viral moment by Lil Jon during the roll call vote on Tuesday night.[ 44]
References
^ "Cutter to leave White House for Obama campaign" , politicaltracker , CNN, September 26, 2011, archived from the original on September 28, 2011, retrieved February 13, 2012 ^ a b c d "Stephanie Cutter" . Whitehouse.gov . Retrieved December 11, 2018 .^ Rampton, Robert (December 15, 2020). "Inauguration Day, From Home: Biden Team Plans Celebration Amid COVID-19" . NPR . Retrieved December 15, 2020 . ^ Zeleny, Jeff (November 21, 2008). "Stephanie Cutter" . The New York Times . ISSN 0362-4331 . Retrieved April 13, 2019 . ^ Alspach, Kyle (November 8, 2008). "Raynham native named chief spokesperson for Obama transition" . The Enterprise . Retrieved August 28, 2012 . ^ Zeleny, Jeff (November 21, 2008). "The New Team - Stephanie Cutter" . The New York Times . Retrieved November 23, 2008 . ^ Ball, Molly (May 30, 2012). "The Resurrection of Stephanie Cutter" . The Atlantic . Retrieved April 5, 2022 . ^ a b Zeleny, Jeff (November 21, 2008). "The New Team: Stephanie Cutter" . The New York Times . Retrieved April 5, 2022 . ^ a b c d e f g Romano, Lois (July 8, 2012). "The 1-woman rapid response team" . Politico the original on April 13, 2019. Retrieved April 5, 2022 . ^ a b c d e f g Chozick, Amy (October 12, 2012). "A Messenger Who Does the Shooting" . The New York Times . Retrieved April 5, 2022 . ^ Johnson, Dennis W. (October 18, 2016). Democracy for Hire: A History of American Political Consulting ISBN 9780190272708 ^ [1] [dead link ^ Ashburn, Lauren (September 4, 2012). "How Stephanie Cutter, Obama's One-Woman Warrior, Wages Political Combat" . The Daily Beast . Retrieved January 27, 2012 . Stephanie Cutter may have kind words for Ann Romney, but she's a pit bull when it comes to the Republicans. She talks to Lauren Ashburn about gender issues and the 2012 campaign. A graduate of Smith College and Georgetown Law School, Cutter, 43, has climbed the political ladder one rung at a time. She moved from the Clinton White House to Ted Kennedy's staff, from communications director of the Democratic National Committee to the same post on John Kerry's 2004 presidential campaign ^ Ball, Molly (May 30, 2012). "The Resurrection of Stephanie Cutter" . The Atlantic . Retrieved December 11, 2018 . ^ Alspach, Kyle (November 8, 2008). "Raynham native named chief spokesperson for Obama transition" . The Enterprise the original on December 2, 2013. Retrieved April 5, 2022 . ^ Draper, Robert; Naddaf, Raha; Goldstein, Sarah; Hylton, Wil S.; Kirby, Mark; Veis, Greg; Newmyer, Tory (October 13, 2009). "The 50 Most Powerful People in D.C." GQ . Retrieved May 11, 2022 . ^ "All today's politics in one place | Front Page" . PoliticsHome. Retrieved April 13, 2012 .[permanent dead link ^ a b "Our Team" . Precision Strategies . Retrieved April 13, 2019 .^ Cillizza, Chris (May 17, 2009). "Cutter to White House for Court Fight" . The Washington Post . Archived from the original on June 3, 2012. Retrieved May 17, 2009 . ^ Stolberg, Sheryl Gay (April 22, 2010). "White House Chooses Cutter to Pitch Health Care" . The Caucus . Retrieved May 9, 2025 . ^ "49. Stephanie Cutter" . GQ the original on June 16, 2010. Retrieved November 21, 2009 .^ Ben Frumin (April 22, 2010). "White House Taps Stephanie Cutter To Sell Health Care Reform" . TPMDC. Retrieved April 13, 2012 . ^ Daley, Bill (January 27, 2011). "Full text of Bill Daley's announcement" . Politico . Retrieved January 27, 2011 .^ Schneider, Elena. "Meet The Five Secret All-Stars Behind Barack Obama's 2012 Campaign" . Business Insider . Retrieved April 13, 2019 . ^ " . CNN . June 26, 2013. Archived from the original on June 30, 2013. Retrieved June 26, 2013 .^ "Stephanie Cutter Pregnant With First Child" . HuffPost ^ "Stephanie Cutter, Obama strategist turned CNN star, is pregnant" . Washington Post ^ Evans, Greg (July 8, 2018). "Stephanie Cutter Named ABC News Contributor; Former Barack Obama Campaign Staffer Most Recently At CNN" . Deadline . Retrieved May 9, 2025 . ^ Levenson, Michael (March 13, 2013). "After tensions, Kennedy Institute brings first Republicans and first senators on to its board" . www.boston.com . Retrieved June 30, 2025 . ^ Kang, Esther (July 9, 2013). "Ray LaHood joins UChicago Institute of Politics' Board of Advisors | University of Chicago News" . UChicago News . Retrieved June 30, 2025 . ^ "Stephanie Cutter" . Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute . Retrieved June 27, 2025 .^ Delacourt, Susan (November 7, 2020). "Canada-U.S. relations changed over four years with Donald Trump — Justin Trudeau and Joe Biden will find some useful lessons" . Toronto Star . Retrieved April 25, 2022 . ^ Criss, Doug (May 10, 2019). "A young girl teaches active-shooter training to grownups" . CNN . Retrieved May 5, 2022 . ^ Meyer, Theodoric; Thompson, Alex (July 2, 2021). "One of the most Biden-connected firms in D.C. is exploring a sale" . Politico . Retrieved April 11, 2022 . ^ Ruderman, Jess (February 13, 2023). "Precision Strategies receives minority investment from Abry Partners" . www.prweek.com . Retrieved May 30, 2025 . ^ Dorbian, Iris (February 27, 2023). "Public affairs firm Precision Strategies secures investment from Abry" . PE Hub . Retrieved May 30, 2025 . ^ Smeyne, Rebecca; Barrayn, Laylah Amatullah; Lee, Christopher; Gilbertson, Ashley (August 23, 2020). "Opinion: What the First Virtual Convention Looked Like Across America" . The New York Times . Retrieved April 11, 2022 . ^ Rampton, Roberta (December 15, 2020). "Inauguration Day, From Home: Biden Team Plans Celebration Amid COVID-19" . NPR . Retrieved April 5, 2022 . ^ Judkis, Maura (January 22, 2021). "Still dazzled by the inauguration show? Here's how it came together, and why Tom Hanks looked so cold" . The Washington Post . Retrieved April 11, 2022 . ^ Freiman, Jordan (September 20, 2021). "2021 Emmy Awards: Complete list of winners and nominees" . CBS News . Retrieved April 11, 2022 . ^ "Outstanding Music Direction Nominees / Winners 2021" . Academy of Television Arts & Sciences . Retrieved April 11, 2022 .^ ^ Crusader, Staff (August 16, 2024). "Democratic National Convention Reveals 2024 Convention Stage" . Crusader Newspaper Group . Retrieved November 22, 2024 . ^ Zeitchik, Steven (August 27, 2024). "DNC Executive Producer: Even My Staff Believed Beyoncé Was Coming" . The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved May 30, 2025 .
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