WhoRunsGov

Sean Sweeney

Senior Strategist, Priorities USA (since April 2011)

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Why He Matters

Sweeney was chief of staff to White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel until Emanuel left Washington in 2010 to run for Chicago mayor. Sweeney had worked with Emanuel since 2006, when Emanuel was political director for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

Emanuel's White House departure left Sweeney in White House limbo as Emanuel's replacement, chief of staff Bill Daley, asked Emmett Beliveau to be his chief of staff. Sweeney moved to a windowless basement office in the West Wing.

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At a Glance

  • Career History: Chief of staff to White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel (since January 2009-October 2010); Staff director to the House Democratic Caucus (2007 to 2009); Political director for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (2006); Chief of staff to Rep. Tim Bishop (D-N.Y.) (2004 to 2006); Legislative assistant to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y) (2001 to 2004)
  • Hometown: Garden City, N.Y.
 

Path to Power

Sweeney grew up in Garden City, N.Y., and graduated from Loyola College in Baltimore, Md.

He got his start on Capitol Hill on big-time campaigns. He worked for Sen. Charles E. Schumer's (D-N.Y.) first senatorial campaign in 1998 when he ousted incumbent Sen. Alfonse D'Amato (R-N.Y.) and then worked for Sen. Clinton during her first senatorial campaign in 2000.

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The Issues

Sweeney never matched the hyper-competitive Emanuel's enthusiasm and intensity. Colleagues describe Sweeney as even-keeled and mild-mannered, a perfect foil for Emanuel.

"In a world of the highest of high tensions, amid screaming and carrying on, Sean Sweeney has the most even-tempered, even-keeled attitude I have seen," said John Lapp, who worked as DCCC executive director with Emanuel and Sweeney during the 2006 election cycle. "He's battle-tested, and is one of the best of the best."

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The Network

Sweeney worked most closely with former White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel and ex-Senior Adviser Sarah Feinberg . But he has worked closely with many of the most powerful Democrats in Washington.

In addition to Capitol Hill work with Emanuel, he also served stints on the Senate campaigns of New York Democratic Sens. Charles E. Schumer and Hillary Rodham Clinton. Sweeney's role as 2006 DCCC political director and 2007-2008 staff director for the House Democratic Caucus meant he worked with many freshman lawmakers with whom most Washingtonians are just getting acquainted.

 

Additional Resources

  1. Almanac of the Unelected, 2008 edition
  2. Bourge, Christian, "The Hill People 2007: Sean Sweeney," National Journal, June 25, 2007
  3. Kornblut, Ann, The Washington Post, Deputy press secretary Burton, political adviser Sweeney to leave White House, Feb. 16, 2011
  4. Trygstad, Kyle, Roll Call, Burton, Sweeney Announce Democratic Super PAC, April 29, 2011
  5. Kamen, Al, The Washington Post, "Of Chiefs of Staff and Seating Charts," January 12, 2011
  6. "Fabulous Fifty," Roll Call, 2008