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Alaskan Senate Underdog Hires Former Bush Aide

Tom Intorcio has joined Alaska Lt. Gov. Mead Treadwell’s Senate campaign as communications director.

Prior to joining Treadwell’s campaign, Intorcio worked on President George W. Bush’s 2004 re-election bid as a field coordinator, as well as on House and Senate campaigns in Colorado, Idaho, Ohio and South Carolina, among others.

Treadwell is running for the GOP nomination to take on Democratic Sen. Mark Begich. Treadwell is currently being outraised by large margins by the Republican front-runner, former Alaska Attorney General Dan Sullivan. The GOP primary in Alaska is Aug. 19.

“I am excited to welcome Tom to Team Treadwell. He is a seasoned veteran of several grassroots campaigns that succeeded despite being outspent,” Treadwell said in a release. “I look forward to working with him to advance our message of bringing decision-making home to Alaska.”


RSLC Names New Board Member

The Republican State Leadership Committee announced last week that Christine Toretti will join the group’s board of directors, a move the group says will help the GOP elect more women to state legislatures across the country.

Toretti, who is chairman and CEO of S.W. Jack Drilling Co., is the founder of the Anne Anstine Excellence in Public Service Series, which teaches Republican women how to become active in politics.

She is also the founder of the Women Lead PAC, a group that seeks to boost female GOP candidates. Toretti also serves as the Republican national committeewoman from Pennsylvania.

“We are honored to welcome Christine to our Board of Directors to help guide our women’s recruitment and training efforts and lend her exceptional talents and vision to the full mission of the RSLC,” Chairman Bill McCollum said in a news release.


N.H. GOP Names New Spokeswoman

The New Hampshire Republican Party announced on Sunday that Lauren Zelt will come onboard as a communications adviser and spokeswoman.

Zelt, who is vice president for media affairs at the GOP firm FP1 Strategies, will begin work at the NHGOP as it heads into the midterms with former Massachusetts Sen. Scott P. Brown looking to unseat Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen in the Granite State.

Zelt served as director of media affairs for Mitt Romney’s 2012 presidential bid. She has also served as deputy press secretary for television at the Republican National Committee.


Calif. Consulting Firm Has New Partner

Revolvis Consulting recently announced that Hector Barajas was promoted to partner at the firm.

Barajas was a vice president of the GOP consulting firm when it launched in 2009. He left to serve as a spokesman for Meg Whitman’s failed 2010 gubernatorial campaign in the Golden State, and also served as communications director for the California Senate Republican Caucus before rejoining Revolvis in May of 2013.

Barajas had been working at the firm for the past year as a vice president, before being elevated to partner this month.


Illinois GOP Elects New Chairman

The Illinois Republican Party unanimously elected Tim Schneider as chairman over the weekend, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.

Schneider, who ran unopposed, served as Cook County commissioner before being elected to a four-year term as chair of the state party on May 17.

Schneider replaces Jack Dorgan, who is leaving the role to become co-chairman of the finance committee looking to elect GOP gubernatorial nominee Bruce Rauner, according to the Sun-Times.

Rauner has a good shot at ousting Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn, who remains unpopular in the state.


Wyoming Democratic Party Chair to Run for Governor

Wyoming Democratic Party Chairman Pete Gosar is stepping down from his position to mount a run for governor in the Cowboy State, The Associated Press reported.

Gosar announced his bid against current GOP Gov. Matt Mead on May 17.

Gosar previously waged an unsuccessful gubernatorial bid in 2010, losing in a Democratic primary to former Wyoming Democratic Party Chairwoman Leslie Petersen. Petersen went on to lose to Mead.

Democrats face an uphill battle statewide in Wyoming. GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney carried the state with 69 percent in 2012.

Please send news of developments in the political industry to shoptalk@rollcall.com and follow us on Twitter @RCShopTalk.

Kyle Trygstad and Abby Livingston contributed to this report.

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