Newly minted Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Ben Ray Luján said Kelly Ward will stay on as executive director of the committee for the second straight cycle.  

In an interview with CQ Roll Call earlier this week, Luján said he hoped Ward would stay for another stint at the top of the committee tasked with helping Democrats regain a majority of seats in the House. On Thursday, Luján announced Ward had accepted the position, and noted she is the first person to spend two consecutive cycles as a DCCC leader.  

“Kelly Ward brings infectious energy, unrivaled determination and key strategic insights to her job, and I am so pleased that she has agreed to stay on at the DCCC,” Luján said in a news release. “After working with Kelly for the past two years, I’ve been so impressed with her ability to both develop the strategy and operationalize the day-to-day work needed to aggressively take the fight to Republicans, and we’re lucky to have her lead our team.”  

This will be Ward’s fourth cycle at the committee. She started in 2010 as incumbent retention director. In 2012, she was promoted to political director. And in 2014, former DCCC Chairman Steve Israel named her executive director.  

Ward said she’s excited for another cycle.  

“I’m lucky to have worked with Chairman Israel as we weathered a storm that could have been worse in 2014, and I look forward to building on the fundamentals we have in place for a successful election night in 2016,” she said a release.  

House Democrats have a tough task, given they just lost at least 12 seats — with one race in Arizona headed to a recount .  

Related:

Luján Pledges to Bring Farmer’s Work Ethic to DCCC


New DCCC Chairman Eyes Current Executive Director


Democrats Look to Ward to Energize 2014 Takeover Attempt


Roll Call Results Map: Results and District Profiles for Every Seat


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