The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee named Guy Cecil as executive director for the 2012 election cycle, in which the party is facing a challenging political landscape.

“Americans want leaders who are more interested in growing the economy and creating jobs than scoring political points,” Cecil said Wednesday in a statement. “That’s why we must do everything we can to preserve the Democratic majority.”

Cecil is currently Sen. Michael Bennet’s (D-Colo.) chief of staff and previously served as political director at the DSCC during the successful 2006 cycle.

“Guy has incredible talent and the experience we need to win what many predict will be a difficult election cycle,” Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said. “Plus, he has the added benefit of having worked with this particular class of Senators.  I worked with Guy when we won the majority in 2006 and I look forward to working with him to keep it.”

Cecil worked as national political and field director for Hillary Rodham Clinton’s 2008 presidential campaign, and this year was by Bennet’s side throughout the Senator’s challenging election to a full term.

“Guy is uniquely qualified to lead our efforts to keep Democrats in control of the U.S. Senate,” DSCC Chairwoman Patty Murray (Wash.) said. “He’s a singular talent with the experience necessary to tackle the challenges and maximize the opportunities presented over the next two years.”

Current DSCC Executive Director J.B. Poersch had been expected to step down after leading the committee for the last three election cycles — a lengthy run in campaign committee world. Reid said Poersch did “a masterful job of running the DSCC,” calling him a “brilliant strategist.”

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