The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee announced on Friday its top staffing decisions for the 2016 cycle.  

Many of the key staffers have previously worked for incoming DSCC Chairman Jon Tester of Montana, who is tasked with helping win back a Democratic majority. The party would need to net five seats to ensure a majority if Democratic Sen. Mary L. Landrieu loses the runoff next month in Louisiana.

Tester Chief of Staff Tom Lopach, who was the DSCC national finance director in the 2008 cycle, will serve as executive director of the committee. Preston Elliott, who managed Tester’s 2012 campaign and most recently led Sen. Kay Hagan’s failed re-election bid in North Carolina, will serve as deputy executive director.  

Valerie Chraca Friedman will come on as national finance director after running her own consulting firm, the Chraca Friedman Group. In 2012, Chraca Friedman was Tester’s national finance director on his successful re-election campaign.  

Tester promoted two other staffers who worked at the committee in the 2014 cycle. Christie Roberts was named director of research and strategy. In 2014, Roberts served as deputy research director and previously served as Tester’s research director in 2012.  

Justin Barasky will also stay on, taking on the role of communications director. Barasky, who held the same role for Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown’s 2012 re-election campaign, served as national press secretary at the DSCC last cycle.  

Earlier Friday, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee announced Missy Kurek will stay on as deputy executive director. She will work under DCCC Executive Director Kelly Ward, who is also staying on for a second stint at the helm of the committee.  

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