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Eric Branstad | |
|---|---|
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1975 (age 49–50) |
| Political party | Republican |
| Children | 4 daughters |
| Relatives | Christine Branstad (mother) Terry Branstad (father) |
| Education | Rockhurst University (BA) |
Eric Branstad (born 1975) is an Americanpolitical consultant,lobbyist, and public relations professional. He is the son ofTerry Branstad, the formerGovernor of Iowa andUS Ambassador to China. In 2023, it was announced that he would serve as a senior advisor toDonald Trump's 2024 presidential campaign in Iowa.[1]
Branstad is the son ofTerry andChristine Branstad. He has two younger siblings, Allison and Marcus.[2][3]
In 1991, Branstad was involved in a car crash that killed two people. He paid $34.50 in fines and court costs for improper passing. The relatively light penalty was seen by many Iowans as an example of his father's political influence.[4] In 1992, Branstad was convicted of public intoxication at an after-school party.[5] In January 1993, Branstad pleaded guilty to using a fake ID in an attempt to purchase alcohol.[5] In June 1993, Branstad, then 17 years old, was a passenger of a crashed vehicle that was registered to his father and was charged with illegal possession of alcohol.[5] After this series of run-ins with the law, Branstad was sent toWentworth Military Academy and College.[4][6]
Branstad is a graduate ofRockhurst University. He is married to Adrianna and has four daughters.[6][7]
Branstad was named field director for theGeorge W. Bush 2004 presidential campaign.[8] Following the Bush 2004 campaign, Branstad was named Deputy Finance Director of theRepublican Party of Iowa. He subsequently spent two years as an Account Manager with the Lincoln Strategies Group (a firm co-founded by Charles W. Larson Jr., the son of a political appointee by Branstad's father) and the Development Director for Iowans for Tax Relief.[9][4] In 2011, he co-founded the Des Moines-based consulting firm, Matchpoint Strategies.[10][4]
Branstad is a longtime lobbyist for theethanol andbiofuels industries.[11] He was state director for America's Renewable Future, a pro-ethanol group opposed to the candidacy ofTed Cruz in the2016 Republican Party presidential primaries due to Cruz's position on theRenewable Fuel Standard, a mandate that "requires corn-based ethanol and other biofuels be blended with gasoline."[12] On January 9, 2016, Branstad's father GovernorTerry Branstad called for Ted Cruz's defeat due to Cruz's rejection of ethanol subsidies.[13] On the night of the2016 Iowa Republican presidential caucuses, Branstad publicly spoke onDonald Trump's behalf at a middle school in Des Moines.[14] After Cruz won the2016 Iowa Republican presidential caucuses, the elder Branstad accused Cruz of underhanded tactics.[15]
In March 2016, Branstadtweeted in defense ofDonald Trump for mocking the appearance of Ted Cruz's wife,Heidi.[16][14] In June 2016, Branstad was named Iowa state director forTrump 2016.[17][14] After Trump won the 2016 presidential election, Branstad served as a liaison to governors in Trump's inaugural committee. After Trump took office, Branstad was appointed senior White House adviser to theCommerce Department.[18][4]
In February 2018, Branstad was announced as the head of Mercury Public Affairs LLC (a subsidiary of theOmnicom Group) new office in Des Moines, Iowa.[10][19][20]
Branstad was a senior advisor to Trump Victory 2020, the joint fundraising committee between theTrump 2020 campaign and theRepublican National Committee.[21]
In August 2021, Branstad was hired by Trump'sSave AmericaPAC, fueling speculations that Trump may run again in 2024.[22][23][24]
In January 2023, Branstad was hired byTrump 2024 presidential campaign.[25]
While working at the Department of Commerce, Branstad became entangled in a controversy involvingRick Gates andTom Barrack.[4] Barrack was pitching a proposal to share nuclear technology withSaudi Arabia and asked Gates to ask Branstad to facilitate a meeting about this proposal with Commerce Secretary,Wilbur Ross. The House Oversight Committee later found that Barrack stood to profit from this proposal.[4]
Eric's business activities inChina came under scrutiny while his father wasUS Ambassador to China, particularly his effort to overturn the Trump administration's ban on Chinese technology company,ZTE.[4][26][19] His father, Terry, denied the allegation that Branstad profited from his father's role as US Ambassador to China.[27]