Michael Podhorzer

Michael Podhorzer

Michael Podhorzer was married to former Obama "Energy Czar" Carol Browner.

The pair met when Carol Browner both worked for Citizen Action in Washington DC in the early 1980s. they married in 1987, but later divorced.

Career

Michael Podhorzer is the Deputy Director of the Political Department of the AFL-CIO. Since 1997, he has developed and directed the Federation's strategic, targeting, opinion research, communication testing and long term planning programs. He was responsible for designing the strategic and targeting framework that supported the dramatic transformation of the Federation's political program in the 1990s. Mr. Podhorzer most recently designed and managed the AFL-CIO's pioneering 2004 "swing voter program" which combined voter file database analytics and clinical trial-style message testing for direct mail, telemarketing, email and neighborhood canvassing. Mr. Podhorzer has worked in politics for the last twenty five years. As Associate Director of Citizen Action, he managed the organization's extensive electoral activities, including successful congressional, state and local campaigns. He also helped found Advocate Development, a company that was formed to create database fundraising management software for Citizen Action's four million members.

Getting People to Accept the 2020 Election Results

In a paper titled "Nonpartisan Talking Points for the Post-Election Period", authors Jegath Athilingam, Eli Pariser and Anat Shenker-Osorio of ASO Communications offers "talking points" for anticipated complaints about the 2020 election, including: "As we expected, it is taking longer to count our votes and verify a winner in this year’s election" and "Regardless of who you voted for, it’s time we come together and to tackle the very real issues our country faces – like COVID, healthcare and making sure we can all make ends meet. ASO Communications acknowledged Michael Podhorzer for "help [in] drafting these conclusions".

Take Back America

On March 17, 2008, Michael Podhorzer, Matt Stoller, Gloria Totten and Kristina Wilfore spoke in a session entitled "Election 2008: The Map", at that year's Take Back America conference.

ProgressNow

From:michael@progressnowaction.org To: john.podesta@gmail.com Date: 2008-04-29 18:29

Subject: Do you want to discuss any of these states?

Dear Board, Investors and Progressive Partner Organizations,

Great news! We are proud to announce our newest advisors below. I've also included the most recent successes in each of our state partner organizations.

Please let me know if you'd like to discuss any ProgressNow partner states: California, Colorado, Florida, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, Ohio, Washington or Wisconsin.

I'd also like your advice on any of these states: Arizona, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New York, Oregon or Pennsylvania.

Thank you. I look forward to hearing from you.

Mike (303) 931-4547 cell

P.S. Let me know if you wish to discuss our plans around the August convention in Denver (the Pepsi Center is four blocks from our office).

P.P.S. Below is an updated list of our advisors (if you would like to be added let me know)

National Board of Directors: Wes Boyd, Martin Collier, Rob McKay, Doug Phelps, Jared Polis, Deborah Rappaport, Bill Roberts, Jeff Rusnak, Anne Summers, Ted Trimpa (Chair) and Joe Zimlich (We recently lost one of our cherished board members-- Adam Solomon-- who went out of his way to help so many of us and so many progressive causes. Our deepest condolences to his entire family. Adam's passing is a true loss and we will miss him.)

Advisors Include: Alexandra Acker, Karen Ackerman, Jennifer Ancona, Adam Bink, Kafi Blumenfield, Bill Budinger, Marc Buell, Anne Bartley, Patricia Bauman, Jeff Blum, Heather Booth, Robert Borosage, David Brock, Anna Burger, Steve Cobble, Noey Congdon, David Donnelly, Cathy Duvall, Christian Ettinger, Patricia Evert, Kirstin Falk, Ricki Feller, David Friedman, Meg Gage, Beth Ganz, Chris Gates, James Golin, Ellen Golumbek, Ken Grossinger, Jill Hanauer, Honorable Gary Hart, Jerry Hauser, Bracken Hendricks, Norton Kalishman, Craig Kaplan, Paul Lhevine, Paul Loeb, Mark Lotwis, John Luongo, Mike Lux, Awilda Marquez, Matt MacWilliams, Tony Masarro, Peter Murray, Sandy Newman, Eli Pariser, Steve Phillips, Drummond Pike, John Podesta, Michael Podhorzer, Zach Pollet, Carl Pope, Rachel Pritzker, Andrew Rasiej, Cecile Richards, Will Robinson, Robin Rorapaugh, Donald Ross, Ron Rowell, Catalina Ruiz-Healy, Laura Quinn, Marsha Scott, Steve Silberstein, David Sirota, Frank Smith, Greg Speed, Steve Shapiro, Rob Stein, John Stocks, Valerie Tarico, Betsy Taylor, Roy Temple, Lisa Turner, Michael Vachon, Phil Villers, Antha Williams, Al Yates, Jon Youngdahl, David Zwick.

ProgressNow affiliate organizations have already launched in nine states and we hope to expand to twenty-five states by 2012.

Take Back the American Dream Conference 2011

Michael Podhorzer was one of the 158 speakers who addressed the Take Back the American Dream Conference 2011 . The Conference was hosted by the Institute for Policy Studies, and Democratic Socialists of America dominated Campaign for America's Future,

Catalist

As of 2011, Michael Podhorzer was serving on the Board of managers of Catalist.

AFL-CIO

Podhorzer will become the new political director for the 12 million-member AFL-CIO, driving one of the largest independent campaign operations in the country, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka announced June 29, 2011. “There’s no one better to direct the political work of the labor movement than Mike Podhorzer,” said Trumka. “Mike is both a brilliant strategist and a passionate advocate whose commitment to building political power for working women and men is unrivalled. The rigor and energy he brings to our efforts are exactly what we need to counter the relentless attacks on working families – and union members in particular – financed by Wall Street and legislated by the politicians they elected.” Podhorzer becomes director after having served at the AFL-CIO as deputy director of the political department since 2005. He came to the AFL-CIO in 1997, and helped establish Working America, the community partner of the AFL-CIO which has grown to 3 million members nationwide.

AFL-CIO SuperPAC

The AFL-CIO will create a "SuperPAC," a separate campaign finance committee that can communicate with the general public - and raise money without any contribution limits - as part of an overall revamp of its political operation, Michael Podhorzer, the federation's new political director, said in August 2011.

In an interview with reporters covering the AFL-CIO Executive Council meeting in Silver Spring, Md., Podhorzer said that although details of the SuperPAC remain to be flushed out, the aim is clear: the labor movement is seeking to expand its influence in the political arena beyond its own membership.

"It's the legal vehicle to talk to the general public in campaigns," using paid media and other communication methods, he said.