Stephanie Cutter

{{Short description|American lawyer and political consultant (born 1968)}}

{{Infobox officeholder

|name = Stephanie Cutter

|image = Stephanie Cutter on CBS Face the Nation.jpg

| caption = Cutter on Face the Nation in 2012

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1968|10|22}}

|birth_place = Taunton, Massachusetts, U.S.

|death_date =

|death_place =

|party = Democratic

|education = Smith College (BA)
Georgetown University (JD)

}}

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.{{Citation|url = http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/09/26/first-on-cnn-cutter-to-leave-white-house-for-obama-campaign/|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110928005724/http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2011/09/26/first-on-cnn-cutter-to-leave-white-house-for-obama-campaign/|url-status = dead|archive-date = September 28, 2011|title = Cutter to leave White House for Obama campaign|work = politicaltracker|publisher = CNN|access-date = February 13, 2012|date=September 26, 2011}} She previously worked in campaign and communications roles for other prominent Democrats including Ted Kennedy and John Kerry.{{Cite web|url= https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/blog/author/stephanie-cutter |title= Stephanie Cutter |date= 2011-01-11 |website= Whitehouse.gov |language=en |access-date=2018-12-11}}

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.{{cite news|url= https://www.npr.org/sections/biden-transition-updates/2020/12/15/946721063/inauguration-day-from-home-biden-team-plans-celebration-amid-covid-19 |title= Inauguration Day, From Home: Biden Team Plans Celebration Amid COVID-19 |work= NPR |date= December 15, 2020 |first= Robert |last= Rampton |access-date= December 15, 2020 }}

Early life and education

Cutter was born in Taunton, Massachusetts, and was raised in nearby Raynham, Massachusetts.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/21/us/politics/21web-cutter.html|title=Stephanie Cutter|last=Zeleny|first=Jeff|date=2008-11-21|work=The New York Times|access-date=2019-04-13|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}} She graduated from Bridgewater-Raynham Regional High School in 1986.{{cite news|last=Alspach|first=Kyle|title=Raynham native named chief spokesperson for Obama transition|url=http://www.enterprisenews.com/homepage/x835134858/Raynham-native-named-chief-spokesperson-for-Obama-transition|newspaper=The Enterprise|access-date=August 28, 2012|date=November 8, 2008}} She received a B.A. degree from Smith College and a J.D. degree from Georgetown Law School.{{cite news | first=Jeff | last=Zeleny | title=The New Team - Stephanie Cutter | date=November 21, 2008 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/21/us/politics/21web-cutter.html |work=The New York Times | access-date=November 23, 2008}}

Career

= Early career (1990 - 2007) =

Cutter began her career working as a junior aide to New York Governor Mario Cuomo prior to joining Bill Clinton's 1992 election campaign.{{cite news |title=The Resurrection of Stephanie Cutter |last1=Ball |first1=Molly |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2012/05/the-resurrection-of-stephanie-cutter/257732/ |work=The Atlantic |date=May 30, 2012 |access-date=April 5, 2022}} She worked for the Environmental Protection Agency and the Clinton administration, eventually becoming White House deputy communications director.{{cite web |last1=Romano |first1=Lois |title=The 1-woman rapid response team |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2012/07/the-1-woman-rapid-response-team-078180 |website=Politico |access-date=April 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190413132340/https://www.politico.com/story/2012/07/the-1-woman-rapid-response-team-078180 |archive-date=April 13, 2019 |date=July 8, 2012 |url-status=dead}} Cutter worked to repair Clinton's image following his impeachment.{{cite news |title=A Messenger Who Does the Shooting |last1=Chozick |first1=Amy |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/14/us/politics/stephanie-cutter-is-a-messenger-who-does-the-shooting-for-obama.html |work=The New York Times |date=October 12, 2012 |access-date=April 5, 2022}}

Beginning in 2001, she served as Communications Director for Senator Ted Kennedy.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ovK4DQAAQBAJ&q=2001+cutter+served+as+Communications+Director+for+Senator+Ted+Kennedy.&pg=PA297|title=Democracy for Hire: A History of American Political Consulting|last=Johnson|first=Dennis W.|date=2016-10-18|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=9780190272708|language=en}}

In November 2003, she was named communications director for the John Kerry campaign,[http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6421297/site/newsweek/print/1/displaymode/1098/]{{dead link|date=August 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} at Kennedy's recommendation.{{cite news |last=Ashburn |first=Lauren |date=September 4, 2012 |title=How Stephanie Cutter, Obama's One-Woman Warrior, Wages Political Combat |url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/09/04/how-stephanie-cutter-obama-s-one-woman-warrior-wages-political-combat.html |access-date=January 27, 2012 |work=The Daily Beast |quote=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}} After the Kerry campaign, Cutter returned to work for Kennedy.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2012/05/the-resurrection-of-stephanie-cutter/257732/|title=The Resurrection of Stephanie Cutter|last=Ball|first=Molly|date=2012-05-30|website=The Atlantic|language=en-US|access-date=2018-12-11}} In May 2008, when Kennedy fell ill at his home in 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.

= Obama campaign and administration years (2008 - 2012) =

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.{{cite web |last1=Alspach |first1=Kyle |title=Raynham native named chief spokesperson for Obama transition |url=https://www.enterprisenews.com/homepage/x835134858/Raynham-native-named-chief-spokesperson-for-Obama-transition |website=The Enterprise |access-date=April 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202232911/https://www.enterprisenews.com/homepage/x835134858/Raynham-native-named-chief-spokesperson-for-Obama-transition |archive-date=December 2, 2013 |date=November 8, 2008 |url-status=dead}} Cutter has been credited with helping the campaign receive an endorsement from Kennedy and improving Michelle Obama's public reputation during the campaign.{{cite news |title=The New Team: Stephanie Cutter |last1=Zeleny |first1=Jeff |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/21/us/politics/21web-cutter.html |work=The New York Times |date=November 21, 2008 |access-date=April 5, 2022}} Cutter became a trusted aide to both Obamas and in 2009 was named one of the "50 Most Powerful People in D.C." by GQ.{{cite web |last1=Draper |first1=Robert |last2=Naddaf |first2=Raha |last3=Goldstein |first3=Sarah |last4=Hylton |first4=Wil S. |last5=Kirby |first5=Mark |last6=Veis |first6=Greg |last7=Newmyer |first7=Tory |title=The 50 Most Powerful People in D.C. |url=https://www.gq.com/gallery/50-most-powerful-people-in-dc |website=GQ |access-date=May 11, 2022 |date=October 13, 2009}}

She served as the Chief Spokesperson for the Obama-Biden Transition Project.{{cite web|url=http://www.politicshome.com/usa/Landing.aspx?Blog=4332&perma=link#4332 |title=All today's politics in one place | Front Page |publisher=PoliticsHome |access-date=April 13, 2012 }}{{dead link|date=January 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} She served in the Treasury Department as Timothy Geithner's counselor{{Cite web|url=https://www.precisionstrategies.com/team/|title=Our Team|website=Precision Strategies|language=en|access-date=2019-04-13}} where "she protected Geithner’s fragile reputation and tried to spin unpopular policies like the Troubled Asset Relief Program and the A.I.G. bailout." In May 2009, Cutter was appointed to serve as adviser to President Obama to lead the Supreme Court confirmation of Supreme Court justice Sonia Sotomayor.{{cite news|url=http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/white-house/cutter-to-white-house-for-cour.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120603130925/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/white-house/cutter-to-white-house-for-cour.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 3, 2012 |newspaper=The Washington Post |title=Cutter to White House for Court Fight |date=May 17, 2009 |access-date= May 17, 2009 |first=Chris |last=Cillizza}}{{Cite web |last=Stolberg |first=Sheryl Gay |date=2010-04-22 |title=White House Chooses Cutter to Pitch Health Care |url=https://archive.nytimes.com/thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/04/22/white-house-chooses-cutter-to-pitch-health-care/ |access-date=2025-05-09 |website=The Caucus |language=en}} Later that year, GQ Magazine named Cutter one of the 50 most powerful people in Washington.{{cite web |url=https://www.gq.com/news-politics/politics/200911/50-most-powerful-in-dc-49 |work=GQ |title=49. Stephanie Cutter |date=October 2009 |access-date=November 21, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100616100625/http://www.gq.com/news-politics/politics/200911/50-most-powerful-in-dc-49 |archive-date=June 16, 2010 |df=mdy }}

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.

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.{{cite web|author=Ben Frumin |url=http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/04/white-house-taps-stephanie-cutter-to-sell-health-care-reform.php |title=White House Taps Stephanie Cutter To Sell Health Care Reform |publisher=TPMDC|date=April 22, 2010 |access-date=April 13, 2012}} In 2011, Cutter was named Deputy Senior Advisor to President Barack Obama.{{cite news|url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0111/48318.html|title=Full text of Bill Daley's announcement|first=Bill|last=Daley|date=January 27, 2011|access-date=January 27, 2011|author-link=William M. Daley |newspaper=Politico}}

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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/obama-2012-campaign-team-election-2012-7|title=Meet The Five Secret All-Stars Behind Barack Obama's 2012 Campaign|last=Schneider|first=Elena|website=Business Insider|access-date=2019-04-13}} She has appeared in numerous campaign videos and ads for Obama's campaign, as well as a guest in TV appearances. The New York Times described her as "a popular but polarizing face of [Obama's] campaign", and a "soldier who says the things the candidate can't (or won't) say." During the 2012 campaign, Steve Schmidt, a Republican strategist, stated that Cutter is "arguably the strongest player on either side out there now."

= 2013 - present =

CNN announced on June 26, 2013, that Cutter will join a new version of Crossfire re-launching in the fall of 2013, with panelists Newt Gingrich, S. E. Cupp, and Van Jones.{{cite news|url=http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/06/26/crossfire-coming-back-to-cnn/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130630095908/http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/06/26/crossfire-coming-back-to-cnn/|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 30, 2013|title='Crossfire' coming back to CNN|date=June 26, 2013|publisher=CNN|access-date=26 June 2013}} Cutter informed CNN staffers on October 7, 2013, that she was pregnant with her first child. With a due date of early March 2014, she informed the network she would return to Crossfire after maternity leave. She remained with the series until it ended in July of that year.{{cite news|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/07/stephanie-cutter-pregnant-expecting-child_n_4059717.html|title=Stephanie Cutter Pregnant With First Child|date=October 7, 2013|publisher=Huffingtonpost.com|access-date=8 November 2014}}{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/reliable-source/wp/2013/10/07/stephanie-cutter-obama-strategist-turned-cnn-star-is-pregnant/|newspaper=Washington Post|title=Stephanie Cutter, Obama strategist turned CNN star, is pregnant}} In 2018, Cutter joined ABC News as a contributor, focusing on "political analysis and insight across ABC News programs and live events."{{Cite web |last=Evans |first=Greg |date=2018-07-08 |title=Stephanie Cutter Named ABC News Contributor; Former Barack Obama Campaign Staffer Most Recently At CNN |url=https://deadline.com/2018/07/stephanie-cutter-abc-news-contributor-barack-obama-1202422831/ |access-date=2025-05-09 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}

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,{{cite news |title=Canada-U.S. relations changed over four years with Donald Trump — Justin Trudeau and Joe Biden will find some useful lessons |last1=Delacourt |first1=Susan |url=https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/2020/11/07/canada-us-relations-changed-over-four-years-with-donald-trump-justin-trudeau-and-joe-biden-will-find-some-useful-lessons.html |work=Toronto Star |date=November 7, 2020 |access-date=April 25, 2022}} March for Our Lives,{{cite news |title=A young girl teaches active-shooter training to grownups |last1=Criss |first1=Doug |url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/10/us/generation-lockdown-psa-trnd/index.html |work=CNN |date=May 10, 2019 |access-date=May 5, 2022}} Earthjustice, the Independent Restaurant Coalition, and General Electric.{{cite news |title=One of the most Biden-connected firms in D.C. is exploring a sale |last1=Meyer |first1=Theodoric |last2=Thompson |first2=Alex |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2021/07/02/biden-connected-firm-dc-sale-497771 |work=Politico |date=July 2, 2021 |access-date=April 11, 2022}} In January 2023, the firm received a minority investment from Abry Partners, a Boston-based private equity firm focused on media, communications and business services.{{Cite web |last=Ruderman |first=Jess |date=February 13, 2023 |title=Precision Strategies receives minority investment from Abry Partners |url=https://www.prweek.com/article/1813061?utm_source=website&utm_medium=social |access-date=2025-05-30 |website=www.prweek.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Dorbian |first=Iris |date=2023-02-27 |title=Public affairs firm Precision Strategies secures investment from Abry |url=https://www.pehub.com/public-affairs-firm-precision-strategies-secures-investment-from-abry/ |access-date=2025-05-30 |website=PE Hub |language=en-US}}

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.{{cite web |last1=Smeyne |first1=Rebecca |last2=Barrayn |first2=Laylah Amatullah |last3=Lee |first3=Christopher |last4=Gilbertson |first4=Ashley |title=Opinion: What the First Virtual Convention Looked Like Across America |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/23/opinion/what-the-first-virtual-convention-looked-like-across-america.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=April 11, 2022 |date=August 23, 2020}} The following year, President 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.{{cite news |title=Inauguration Day, From Home: Biden Team Plans Celebration Amid COVID-19 |last1=Rampton |first1=Roberta |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/biden-transition-updates/2020/12/15/946721063/inauguration-day-from-home-biden-team-plans-celebration-amid-covid-19 |work=NPR |date=December 15, 2020 |access-date=April 5, 2022}}{{cite news |last1=Judkis |first1=Maura |title=Still dazzled by the inauguration show? Here's how it came together, and why Tom Hanks looked so cold. |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/inauguration-fireworks-concert-tom-hanks/2021/01/22/d75cadd4-5c14-11eb-a976-bad6431e03e2_story.html |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=April 11, 2022 |date=January 22, 2021}} Part of the inauguration, Celebrating America, earned Cutter and Kirshner a nomination for the Outstanding Live Variety Special award at the 73rd Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards.{{cite web |last1=Freiman |first1=Jordan |title=2021 Emmy Awards: Complete list of winners and nominees |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/2021-emmy-awards-winners-nominees-list/ |website=CBS News |access-date=April 11, 2022 |date=September 20, 2021}}{{cite web |title=Outstanding Music Direction Nominees / Winners 2021 |url=https://www.emmys.com/awards/nominees-winners/2021/outstanding-variety-music-or-comedy-special |website=Academy of Television Arts & Sciences |access-date=April 11, 2022 |language=en |date=2021}}

In August 2024, campaign officials for Kamala Harris's 2024 presidential campaign announced that Cutter will be senior adviser for strategy messaging.{{cite news| url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/08/02/kamala-harris-hires-new-senior-strategists-campaign-expands-portfolio-others/| title=Harris hires Obama campaign veterans to join 2024 effort, replacing Biden loyalists| author1=Michael Scherer| author2=Tyler Pager| newspaper=The Washington Post| date=August 2, 2024}} Cutter and Ricky Kirshner served as co-executive producers of the 2024 Democratic National Convention.{{cite news |title=Democratic National Convention Reveals 2024 Convention Stage |last1=Crusader |first1=Staff |url=https://chicagocrusader.com/democratic-national-convention-reveals-2024-convention-stage/ |work=Crusader Newspaper Group |date=August 16, 2024 |access-date=November 22, 2024}} Cutter developed the strategy and messaging for the convention, which featured an issue-oriented speaker line up and a viral moment by Lil Jon during the roll call vote on Tuesday night.{{Cite web |last=Zeitchik |first=Steven |date=2024-08-27 |title=DNC Executive Producer: Even My Staff Believed Beyoncé Was Coming |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/politics-news/dnc-executive-producers-beyonce-gus-walz-lil-jon-1235984795/ |access-date=2025-05-30 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}