Jeff Weaver
Personal details
Born1966 (age 57–58)
St. Albans, Vermont, U.S.
EducationUniversity of Vermont (BA)
Georgetown University (JD)

Jeffrey P. Weaver (born 1966)[1] is an American political strategist who served as campaign manager for the Bernie Sanders 2016 presidential campaign and an advisor for the Bernie Sanders 2020 presidential campaign.[2][3][4] He formerly served as the campaign manager for Sanders's 2006 United States Senate election and as chief of staff in Sanders's House and Senate offices.[5] In August 2016, Weaver was named president of Our Revolution, a political organization created by Sanders, a position he held until June 2017. In May 2018, his book How Bernie Won: Inside the Revolution That's Taking Back Our Country was published.

Education

Weaver graduated from Missisquoi Valley Union High School in Swanton, Vermont in 1983. He then attended Boston University as an undergraduate ROTC candidate.

After being suspended, Weaver left Boston University and later graduated from the University of Vermont.[6] He then earned a Juris Doctor from the Georgetown University Law Center.[7]

Anti-apartheid activism

At Boston University, Weaver was arrested on April 24, 1986, for disorderly conduct, along with 10 other students, who became known as the "BU Eleven." The group began building shanties on campus and tried to prevent university employees from tearing them down. During the incident, several students, including Weaver, tried to prevent police from driving away. Some of the students were placed on probation and others suspended. Weaver received an honorable discharge from the Marines' Reserve Officers' Training Corps.[8] Also in 1986, Weaver and three other students sued the university for the right to hang banners outside their dormitories. Yosef Abramowitz and two other students had displayed signs promoting divestment of the university with companies doing business with South Africa. When Abramowitz's sign was taken down, Weaver hung an American flag and two signs, one a Marine recruiting poster and the other reading "In Solidarity With Yosef". The university claimed it had a policy against dormitory banner displays, but the students argued it was selectively enforced, violating the right to free speech. The courts ruled in the students' favor,[9] providing an immediate injunction against the students being forced to leave their dormitories, and also issuing a permanent injunction preventing the university from taking disciplinary action against the four for exercising their right of free speech.[10]

Career

Weaver's first role as a campaign staffer was in 1986 when he worked for Bernie Sanders's gubernatorial campaign as an Independent. Weaver served as a driver for Sanders.[1][5]

In 1987, one year after his involvement with the Sanders gubernatorial campaign, Weaver launched a campaign of his own, running for St. Albans City Ward 4 alderman. He was 21 years old and known locally for his efforts to register new voters. In 1990, Weaver challenged incumbent St. Albans mayor Ron Firkey for his seat. Weaver ran as an Independent and lost with 40% of the vote. In conceding the race, he said, "People haven't seen the last of Jeff Weaver."[1][2]

Weaver was a staffer for Sanders' successful 1990 congressional race. Following the race, he worked as a legislative assistant, eventually working his way up to chief of staff. Weaver later managed Sanders' successful 2006 Senate campaign and served as chief of staff.[2]

In 2009, following his role as Sanders' Senate chief of staff, Weaver left the political scene to run a comics and gaming store, Victory Comics, in Falls Church, Virginia.[1][11][12]

In May 2015, after a break from politics, Weaver was appointed campaign manager for Sanders' presidential campaign.[2][13][14] The New York Times described Weaver as "a long-trusted adviser to Mr. Sanders, who has developed a reputation inside and outside his campaign as a hard-charging operative often willing to go further than the candidate himself."[15] In July 2016, after Sanders endorsed Hillary Clinton for president, Weaver promised "to help organize voters", but did not join her campaign staff.[16]

In August 2016, Weaver was named the president of Our Revolution, a political organization created by Bernie Sanders.[17] In response to his appointment, eight of Our Revolution's 13 staff members resigned.[18] In late June 2017, he was succeeded by Nina Turner, former state senator of Ohio.[19]

In May 2018, Weaver's book How Bernie Won: Inside the Revolution That's Taking Back Our Country--and Where We Go from Here was published.[20] It is an account of the 2016 Sanders campaign and a wide-ranging assessment of its effects. During the promotional tour for the book, Weaver was interviewed on C-SPAN,[21] Fox News[22] and The Young Turks.[23]

In November 2023, Minnesota Congressman Dean Phillips picked Weaver as senior advisor for his Democratic presidential primary campaign.[24][25]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Elodie Reed (May 27, 2015). "Sanders kicks off campaign". St. Albans Messenger.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Tim Murphy. "Meet the Comic Book King Running Bernie Sanders's Campaign". Mother Jones. Retrieved February 9, 2016.
  3. ↑ "Sanders Announces Campaign Management Team With Strong Vermont, Grassroots Experience - Bernie Sanders". Bernie Sanders. Archived from the original on 2018-11-23. Retrieved 2016-02-11.
  4. ↑ "Sanders names 2 aides to presidential campaign". Burlington Free Press. May 15, 2015.
  5. 1 2 Graham, Ruth. "Bernie Sanders 2016 campaign staff: The power players". Politico. Retrieved February 9, 2016.
  6. ↑ "MVU Hall of Fame/Alumni". Missisquoi Valley Union Middle & High School. Archived from the original on October 23, 2011. Retrieved February 9, 2016.
  7. ↑ Stanley, Alessandra (June 11, 2016). "Will This Guy Shut Off the Lights in the Sanders Campaign?". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved March 21, 2020.
  8. ↑ Students Sue BU In Free Speech Case Martha A Bridegam, The Harvard Crimson, September 27, 1986
  9. ↑ JUDGE RULES FOR STUDENTS WHO PUT BANNERS OUT DORMITORY WINDOWS Associated Press News Archive, December 2, 1986
  10. ↑ B.U. Loses Student Suit; Court Says Banners Stay The Harvard Crimson, December 4, 1986
  11. ↑ "MAN ABOUT TOWN: For Men and Boys Only". Archived from the original on 2016-02-15. Retrieved 2016-02-11.
  12. ↑ "Sanders Picks Longtime Aides to Run Presidential Campaign". Seven Days.
  13. ↑ "Rutland Herald". Archived from the original on 2016-02-15. Retrieved 2016-02-11.
  14. ↑ "Statement by Jeff Weaver, Bernie Sanders 2016 Campaign Manager - Bernie Sanders". Bernie Sanders. Archived from the original on February 22, 2016. Retrieved February 22, 2016.
  15. ↑ Haberman, Maggie (December 29, 2015). "Top Bernie Sanders Aide Rankles Those In and Out of Campaign". The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 23, 2018.
  16. ↑ "Sanders' top aide to help organize votes for Clinton". Politico.
  17. ↑ "Bernie Sanders's New Political Group Is Met by Staff Revolt". The New York Times. August 25, 2016.
  18. ↑ Seitz-Wald, Alex. "Bernie Sanders' new group hits major trouble on the launchpad". NBC News. Retrieved June 10, 2018.
  19. ↑ "Turner replaces Weaver as Our Revolution president". Politico. June 29, 2017.
  20. ↑ Weaver, Jeff (May 15, 2018). How Bernie Won: Inside the Revolution That's Taking Back Our Country--and Where We Go from Here. Thomas Dunne Books/St. Martin's Press. p. 400. ISBN 9781250144751.
  21. ↑ "Washington Journal: Jeff Weaver Discusses How Bernie Won". C-SPAN.org. Retrieved June 10, 2018.
  22. ↑ "'How Bernie Won: Inside the Revolution That's Taking Back Our Country - and Where We Go from Here' by Jeff Weaver". Fox News. May 15, 2018. Retrieved June 10, 2018.
  23. ↑ "How Bernie Sanders Won - Jeff Weaver Interview w/ The Young Turks". The Young Turks/YouTube. May 16, 2018. Retrieved June 10, 2018.
  24. ↑ "US presidential election 2024: Joe Biden's Democratic challengers". 2022-11-21. Retrieved 2023-12-05. hired Jeff Weaver, a top adviser to Bernie Sanders in his 2016 and 2020 presidential bids, and Zach Graumann, campaign manager to Andrew Yang's 2020 bid, as senior strategists.
  25. ↑ "'No conspiracy.' Florida Democrats explain cancellation of state presidential primary". Yahoo News. 2023-12-04. Retrieved 2023-12-05. Jeff Weaver, a senior adviser to Phillips…
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