Virginia Democrats announce new staff hires to expand communications, targeting infrastructure

Democratic Party of Virginia Chairwoman Susan Swecker today announced the addition of two new staffers to the DPVA team.

Stephen Carter, a former Capitol Hill and Democratic campaign operative with strong family ties to Virginia Beach joins as Communication Director. Stephen will ensure that the Democratic Party’s message is communicated through surrogates, earned, paid, and online media channels. Morgan Finkelstein will remain in her role as Press Secretary.

Shyam Raman, a recent college graduate with ties to Henrico County joins as Deputy IT Director, where he will be a key part of the targeting and data team. Shyam will help Democratic campaigns across Virginia engage with voters.

Both hires follow the recent addition of Executive Director Becca Slutzky.

“Virginia Democrats are fired up for November and already hard at work to take back the Senate and make gains in the House,” said Chairwoman Swecker. “Our growing team will target every voter and relentlessly push our message of growing the middle class, creating good paying jobs, and expanding opportunity for all Virginians.”

Stephen Carter: Stephen is instrumental in ensuring the DPVA’s message reaches voters through earned, paid, and online media. He brings nearly a decade of experience advising candidates and elected officials on developing and implementing aggressive communications strategies. Before joining the Virginia Democrats, Stephen served as a senior advisor on legislative and communications matters for a Member of Congress. As a Regional Press Secretary at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, he wrote and enacted communications plans for over a dozen competitive Congressional races across the country.

Shyam Raman: Shyam joined the Virginia Democrats in June 2015 after graduating from the University of Nebraska. Shyam began his political career as an Intern on a Senate campaign in Iowa. Later, in the fall of 2014, Shyam was a Field Organizer for the Iowa Democratic Coordinated Campaign in Des Moines. Following the election, Shyam returned to Nebraska to finish his last semester and intern for the Nebraska Democratic Party.