Booker picks for NJ Dems official for NH campaign role

Cory Booker has named several veteran New Hampshire Democratic operatives – including former New Jersey Democratic operative Sean Downey — to run his campaign in the first-in-the-nation presidential primary.

Downey served as executive director of the New Jersey Democratic State Committee in 2011, and as New Hampshire political director for President Obama’s 2012 re-election campaign.  He had worked for New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch and as district director for Rep. Annie Kuster (D-New Hampshire).

He will serve as a senior advisor to Booker’s bid for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Erin Turmelle, a former coordinated campaign director for the New Hampshire Democratic Party, was named state director.  Turmelle worked as a regional organizing director for Hillary Clinton in New Hampshire in 2016, and as a regional field director of the New Hampshire Democrats in 2914.

The deputy state director will be Emma Tyler, a former deputy executive director of the New Hampshire Democratic Party.  She worked on the Hillary Clinton’s New Hampshire campaign staff in 2016, and was the organizing director of the New Hampshire Democratic Coordinated campaign in 2018.

In South Carolina, Booker has picked Christale Spain, the former executve director of the South Carolina Democratic Party, as his state director.  Clay Middleton, a longtime district aide to House Majority Whip James Clyburn and a former Obama White House staffer, will serve as a senior political advisor.