Michael DuHaime
{{Short description|Republican strategist and public affairs executive}}
{{BLP sources|date=November 2022}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| office = Political Director of the Republican National Committee
| leader = Ken Mehlman
| term_start = January 19, 2005
| term_end = January 19, 2007
| predecessor = Blaise Hazelwood
| successor = Rich Beeson
| birth_date = {{birth year and age|1974}}
| birth_place = {{nowrap|Bloomingdale, New Jersey, US}}
| death_date =
| death_place =
| party = Republican
| alma_mater = Rutgers University (BA)
| residence = Westfield, New Jersey, US
}}
Mike Andrew DuHaime (born May 1974), is a political campaign strategist, public affairs executive, and businessman. A member of the Republican Party, DuHaime served as the Political Director of the Republican National Committee between 2005 and 2007 and was the chief strategist for the Chris Christie's successful campaign for governor of New Jersey, defeating Democratic incumbent Jon Corzine.{{cite web |title=Archived copy |url=http://www.politickernj.com/files/winnerslosers_WL2009.pdf |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091122132531/http://www.politickernj.com/files/winnerslosers_WL2009.pdf |archivedate=2009-11-22 |accessdate=2009-12-03}} DuHaime is also a managing director at Mercury Public Affairs, LLC, a national public affairs firm.{{cite web |url=http://www.mercurypublicaffairs.com/team.htm |title=Mercury Public Affairs - Our Team |accessdate=2010-02-01 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100317112451/http://www.mercurypublicaffairs.com/team.htm |archivedate=2010-03-17 }} He served as one of ten members of Gov. Christie's transition team and was the chairman of the authorities subcommittee.http://www.state.nj.us/governor/news/reports/Authorities.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=March 2022}}
DuHaime advised the 2016 Chris Christie presidential campaign.
Early life
DuHaime grew up in Bloomingdale, New Jersey and graduated from nearby DePaul Catholic High School.{{Cite news |last=Stile |first=Charles |date=March 1, 2009 |title=Diversity may factor into marshal pick |pages=49 |work=The Bergen Record |url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-record-diversity-may-factor-into-mar/131489950/ |access-date=September 9, 2023}} His mother, Anne DuHaime, served as the mayor of Bloomingdale.{{Cite news |last=Brubaker |first=Paul |date=November 11, 2007 |title=Leaders look at jail, race for presidency |pages=13 |work=The Herald-News |url=https://newspapers.com/article/the-herald-news-leaders-look-at-jail-ra/131489372/ |access-date=September 9, 2023}} His father, Richard DuHaime, was a four-term Passaic County Freeholder and unsuccessfully ran for the U.S. Senate in 1996.{{Cite news |last=Preston |first=Jennifer |date=May 19, 1996 |title=ON POLITICS; Who Needs June 4? These Candidates Do |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/05/19/nyregion/on-politics-who-needs-june-4-these-candidates-do.html |access-date=September 9, 2023}} He finished second in a three-way Republican primary, capturing only 19% of the vote and losing to Rep. Richard Zimmer.{{Cite news |last=Pulley |first=Brett |date=June 5, 1996 |title=U.S. Senate Race in New Jersey Narrows to Zimmer and Torricelli |pages=1 |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/06/05/nyregion/us-senate-race-in-new-jersey-narrows-to-zimmer-and-torricelli.html |access-date=September 9, 2023}} His sister, Debbie DuHaime, is the morning traffic reporter for WABC-AM and WEPN-AM radio in New York City.{{Cite news |last=Caldwell |first=Dave |date=August 26, 2007 |title=Traffic? Tell Them About It |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/26/nyregion/nyregionspecial2/26Rtraffic.html |access-date=September 9, 2023}}{{Cite news |last=Cohn-Sheehan |first=Ariana |date=January 18, 2012 |title=TV Host to Kick Off Catholic Schools Week |work=Patch.com |url=https://patch.com/new-jersey/triboro/tv-host-to-kick-off-catholic-schools-week |access-date=September 9, 2023}}
DuHaime graduated from Rutgers University in 1995 with a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism and Political Science.{{Cite web |title=Eagleton Faculty, Staff and Visiting Associates |url=https://eagleton.rutgers.edu/staff/michael-duhaime-2/ |access-date=September 9, 2023 |website=Eagleton Institute of Politics}} He was also a member of the Rutgers ice hockey team where he served as its captain during his junior and senior years.{{Cite news |date=December 9, 2007 |title=At 33, Mike Duhaime is leading Rudy Giuliani's charge to White House |work=New York Daily News |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/2007/12/09/at-33-mike-duhaime-is-leading-rudy-giulianis-charge-to-white-house/ |access-date=September 9, 2023}} The team played in the MCHC and did compete at the NCAA level.{{cite web |title=History - It all started on Weston's Mill Pond... |url=http://www.rutgershockey.com/History.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080418042319/http://www.rutgershockey.com/History.html |archive-date=April 18, 2008 |accessdate= |website=Rutgers University Ice Hockey}}
Early career
DuHaime started in politics as a volunteer on his father's campaigns for Freeholder and U.S. Senate and worked as an intern in the New Jersey State Senate Majority office in Trenton.{{citation needed|date=October 2018}}
In 1997, he became the Campaign Manager for Anthony Bucco, a Republican State Assemblyman from Morris County who was challenging an incumbent Democratic State Senator in New Jersey's 25th Legislative District.{{citation needed|date=October 2018}} Bucco defeated Peter Mancuso, a former Mayor of Morris Township and a former New Jersey Republican State Committee Finance Chairman, in the Republican primary by a 56%-44% margin. Bucco defeated incumbent State Sen. Gordon MacInnes in the General Election by a 55%-44% margin. Bucco won despite being heavily outspent in both races{{citation needed|date=October 2018}}, and was the only Republican to defeat an incumbent Democratic State Senator in New Jersey from 1991 to 2007.{{cite web|url=http://www.politickernj.com/did-you-know-last-time-gop-challenger-beat-incumbent-dem-state-senator-duhaime-was-campaign-manager-|title=Did you know the last time a GOP challenger beat an incumbent Dem State Senator, DuHaime was the campaign manager?|date=30 August 2007|publisher=|accessdate=30 October 2017}}
As the Vice-President of Political Communications in 1998 for Campbell & Pusateri, a national Republican consulting firm in Alexandria, Virginia, DuHaime designed paid media and mail strategies for races throughout the country, the most noteworthy of which was the open seat congressional race in Pennsylvania's 10th District, where Democrats outnumbered Republicans. DuHaime's client, the businessman Don Sherwood, assembled "a grassroots organization of 1,800 volunteers and propounding an agenda that combined small business to cut taxes" (Almanac of American Politics 2000) and won an eight-candidate field in the Republican primary with 43% of the vote.{{citation needed|date=October 2018}} Scranton Mayor Jim Connors finished second with 23%. In the General Election, Sherwood defeated Patrick Casey, the son of popular former Governor Robert Casey, by 515 votes, 49%-48%.{{citation needed|date=October 2018}}
Recognized for his ability and success Campaigns & Elections Magazine named DuHaime a "Rising Star in American Politics" at the age of 24 in 1998,{{citation needed|date=October 2018}} and he has taught seminars on political communication and grassroots campaigning to candidates and operatives in New Jersey and Washington.{{citation needed|date=October 2018}} DuHaime has also spoken on grassroots politics at Harvard and Rutgers.
In 1999, DuHaime returned to New Jersey to work in the District Office of Rep. Bob Franks, a former Republican State Chairman who was in his fourth term in the U.S. House. {{citation needed|date=October 2018}} He also served as Executive Director of New Jersey's New Century, a political action committee chaired by Congressman Franks. {{citation needed|date=October 2018}}
2000 campaign
Democratic U.S. Senator Frank R. Lautenberg retired after three terms, and Republican Governor Christine Todd Whitman was running to succeed him. But in September 1999, Whitman unexpectedly dropped out of the race, and four candidates, including Bob Franks, sought the Republican Senate nomination.
DuHaime became Franks' Deputy Campaign Manager. Franks won the Republican nomination after an intensive grassroots campaign directed by DuHaime, that included several stunning upsets in pre-primary conventions for the endorsements of county organizations. In the general election, Franks lost narrowly to Democrat Jon Corzine, who spent more than $70 million to win a U.S. Senate seat. A Quinnipiac University Polling Institute poll released the day before the 2000 election showed Franks leading Corzine, 45%-43%.{{cite web |url=http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x1299.xml?ReleaseID=585 |title=New Jersey (NJ) Poll * November 6, 2000 * Corzine-Franks New Jersey Race - Quinnipiac University |accessdate=2006-12-15 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071001063441/http://www.quinnipiac.edu/x1299.xml?ReleaseID=585 |archivedate=2007-10-01 }}
Political consultant
From 2001 to 2003, DuHaime owned the Hoboken, New Jersey, political consulting firm DuHaime Communications, Inc. His clients included Thomas H. Kean, Jr., who won election to his first public office in 2001 as a candidate for the New Jersey General Assembly in a Special Election. DuHaime was also the consultant for Kean's first State Senate race two years later. Another client was Bill Baroni, who unseated an incumbent Democratic Assemblyman in 2003.
DuHaime served as Executive Director of the New Jersey Republican State Committee in 2002. The state party utilized innovative GOTV tactics that resulted in increased turnout in GOP strongholds that, for the first time in years, outpaced the turnout in Democratic areas. Doug Forrester, the Republican candidate for United States Senate that year, was soundly defeated by former United States Senator Frank Lautenberg.{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2002/pages/senate/index.html|title=CNN.com Election 2002 - Senate|website=www.cnn.com|accessdate=30 October 2017}}
DuHaime served as Political Director of the Republican National Committee from January 2005 to December 2006, where he became known for his ability to organize on the grassroots level effectively.{{Citation needed|reason=Reliable source needed for the whole sentence|date=December 2017}} He is a protégé of Republican National Chairman Ken Mehlman and Terry Nelson.{{cite web |title=Get of the Week: Michael DuHaime - Hotline on Call |url=http://hotlineoncall.nationaljournal.com/archives/2006/12/get_of_the_week_1.php |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111006094210/http://hotlineoncall.nationaljournal.com/archives/2006/12/get_of_the_week_1.php |archivedate=2011-10-06 |accessdate=2009-04-29}}
As a Regional Political Director for Bush-Cheney presidential campaign in 2004, DuHaime helped develop the national "get out the vote" and Election Day efforts and directed the day-to-day campaign operations in 11 northeastern states, which yielded millions more votes for the President{{Citation needed|reason=Reliable source needed for the millions of votes claim|date=December 2017}} in the region and kept John Kerry tied up in his Northeastern base.{{cite journal |last=Suellentrop |first=Chris |date=3 November 2004 |title=Why Kerry Lost |url=http://www.slate.com/id/2109145/ |journal=Slate |accessdate=30 October 2017}}
DuHaime said of Donald Trump's second impeachment, “The longer Donald Trump stays central to the news, the better it is for Biden,” he said. “The constant reminder of Trump’s worst actions makes Biden look great by comparison, simply by acting sane.”{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/11/us/politics/biden-impeachment-trump.html?action=click&module=Spotlight&pgtype=Homepage|title = One Thing Biden and His Staff Refuse to Discuss: Trump's Impeachment Trial|newspaper = The New York Times|date = 11 February 2021|last1 = Karni|first1 = Annie|last2 = Haberman|first2 = Maggie}}
2008 presidential election
DuHaime was initially serving as campaign manager for Rudy Giuliani's presidential campaign. However, when Arizona Senator John McCain secured the Republican nomination, DuHaime became the senior advisor for Political Operations at the Republican National Committee.[http://www.politico.com/blogs/jonathanmartin/0308/DuHaime_to_help_lead_RNC_Victory_effort.html DuHaime to help lead RNC Victory effort] from Politico.com As of July 7, DuHaime was hired[https://web.archive.org/web/20080711064214/http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/07/07/mccain-campaign-gets-new-political-director/ mccain campaign gets new political director] From CNN Political tracker blog as political director for Sen. John McCain's unsuccessful presidential bid.
He managed Rudy Giuliani's campaign for the 2008 Republican presidential nomination. He has served as Political Director of the Republican National Committee, Regional Political Director of President Bush's 2004 re-election campaign, and Executive Director of the New Jersey Republican State Committee.
Before working on the Bush campaign, DuHaime worked for Republicans at the local, state, and federal levels.{{cite web |date=15 January 2009 |title=DuHaime joins key public affairs group |url=http://www.politickernj.com/editor/26605/duhaime-joins-key-public-affairs-group |accessdate=30 October 2017 |publisher=}}
2009 New Jersey gubernatorial election
DuHaime was the lead consultant for Republican Chris Christie, who was elected Governor of New Jersey in 2009. Christie defeated incumbent Governor Jon S. Corzine by nearly 100,000 votes. Christie named DuHaime as one of ten members of his transition team.{{cite web|url=http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/11/gov-elect_chris_christie_names.html|title=N.J. Gov.-elect Chris Christie names transition team led by former AG David Samson|date=11 November 2009|publisher=|accessdate=30 October 2017}} DuHaime headed the transition panel for the state's independent authorities, which includes the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority.{{cite web |url=http://www.nj.gov/transition2010/news/20091120.html |title=State of New Jersey - Transition 2010 |accessdate=2009-12-03 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091204235246/http://www.nj.gov/transition2010/news/20091120.html |archivedate=2009-12-04 }}
DuHaime was one of ten members of Gov.-elect Chris Christie's Transition Team and chaired the Authorities Subcommittee, which deals with the state's independent authorities and agencies.{{cite web |title=The power players behind Chris Christie's campaign |url=http://www.politico.com/story/2015/06/chris-christie-2016-campaign-staff-119587 |accessdate=30 October 2017 |website=Politico |date=30 June 2015 |publisher=}}