More than a year out from the 2027 mayoral election, Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther has hired an experienced Democratic campaign adviser who’s worked on the presidential campaigns for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.
Ginther hired Julia Kennedy in April as a new senior advisor for his reelection bid. Ginther and Kennedy have a history of working together, going back to 2008. She recently moved back to Ohio after nearly 15 years of working on campaigns in 24 states.
Bringing on Kennedy is the latest indication that Ginther is preparing to face his first serious challenger in more than a decade when he runs for a fourth term next year. The new hire comes after months of Columbus City Council President Shannon Hardin implying he’s going to challenge his long-time political ally and enter the mayoral race.
Kennedy told The Dispatch that team Ginther isn’t necessarily expecting a challenge, but preparing. In addition to building up his campaign staff, Ginther has also built an early financial edge by stockpiling a campaign war chest containing more than $1.3 million.
“The stakes of all elections right now are so high in terms of where we are as a country,” Kennedy said. “So regardless of whether he has an opponent or many opponents, it’s still an extremely important election.”
Ginther said he ascribes to the political adage run scared or run unopposed, and incumbents across the country are facing more challenges.
“No matter what happens in terms of opponents or no opponents, I’m ready to have a conversation about my vision for the future with voters and I know she can help me do that,” Ginther said. “With Julia, I had an opportunity to bring in and work with the best of the best, so I took it, not just because of our personal connection.”
Kennedy’s resume includes managing the “blue wall battleground states” team for Harris’ unsuccessful campaign in 2024 and advising the White House and Democratic National Convention during the Biden administration. In 2020, Kennedy was Amy Klobuchar’s deputy campaign manager until Klobuchar dropped out of the presidential race and Kennedy joined the Biden-Harris campaign as its polling and strategy director.
Kennedy credits Ginther with giving her the push she needed to go into political campaigning. She first met Ginther in 2008 when she was involved in student government while attending Ohio State University and Ginther was on the Columbus City Council. They worked together on the University Area Safety Committee, a joint effort by the city and OSU.
Ginther got Kennedy, a neuroscience major at the time, a job in 2009 working on the city’s Issue One campaign, which successfully convinced voters to raise Columbus’ income tax. Then, when Kennedy wasn’t sure about going into politics, Ginther convinced her she could. Kennedy said that conversation changed her life.
Now that Kennedy is back in Columbus, Ginther said it’s fortunate to have someone of her caliber in the community.
Government and politics reporter Jordan Laird can be reached at jlaird@dispatch.com. Follow her on X, Instagram and Bluesky at @LairdWrites.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Mayor Ginther adds experienced campaigner ahead of possible reelection challenge
Reporting by Jordan Laird, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
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