David Plouffe facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
David Plouffe
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Plouffe in 2016
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| Senior Advisor to the President | |
| In office January 10, 2011 – January 25, 2013 |
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| President | Barack Obama |
| Preceded by | David Axelrod |
| Succeeded by | Dan Pfeiffer |
| Personal details | |
| Born | May 27, 1967 Wilmington, Delaware, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Olivia Morgan |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | University of Delaware (BA) |
David Plouffe (born May 27, 1967) is an American political and business expert. He is best known for leading Barack Obama's successful campaign to become president in 2008. He also served as a senior advisor to Kamala Harris' 2024 presidential campaign.
Plouffe has worked for the Democratic Party for a long time. He was a partner at a company called AKPD Message and Media, which helps with political campaigns. He joined this company in 2000.
After Obama became president, Plouffe continued to advise him. In 2011, he took on a special role at the White House as a senior advisor. Later, he worked for the company Uber, helping with their policies and plans. In 2017, he joined the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, which works on solving big problems like disease and poverty. He also joined the board of a group called ACRONYM, which focuses on digital campaigns.
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Early life and education
David Plouffe was born and grew up in Wilmington, Delaware. His family was working-class, meaning they earned their living through jobs like factory work. His mother, Frances, stayed at home, and his father, James, worked in a factory and later in marketing.
Plouffe went to St. Mark's High School. He started college at the University of Delaware. In 1989, he left college to work full-time in politics. He later finished his college degree in 2010.
Political career beginnings
Plouffe started his political work in 1990. He worked for Senator Tom Harkin's re-election campaign. He then helped with Harkin's presidential campaign in 1992. That same year, he successfully managed Congressman John Olver's re-election campaign in Massachusetts. In 1994, Plouffe managed a campaign for Delaware Attorney General Charles M. Oberly.
Leading the 2008 Obama campaign
David Plouffe was the main manager for Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign. He is given credit for the campaign's overall plan. This plan focused on winning the first caucus in Iowa. It also aimed to get as many pledged delegates as possible. Delegates are people who vote for a candidate at a party convention.
His strategy was different from focusing on states with primaries or the total popular vote. Experts said his plan helped Obama win in Iowa. They also noted he kept the campaign organized and controlled information. This helped avoid public disagreements within the campaign.
In June 2008, when Obama won the Democratic Party nomination, he thanked Plouffe. Obama called him "the unsung hero of this campaign." He said Plouffe built "the best political campaign... in the history of the United States." After winning the election in November, Obama again praised Plouffe in his acceptance speech.
Working for President Obama
After the 2008 election, Plouffe became a senior advisor to the Obama administration. In 2009, he released a book called The Audacity to Win. This book shared the strategies he used in the 2008 campaign. It became a bestseller.
In January 2011, Plouffe officially joined the White House staff. He became an Assistant to the President and Senior Advisor. In this role, he helped create White House plans and share the president's message. He traveled with President Obama on trips both in the U.S. and to other countries.
Plouffe left the White House in January 2013, after Obama's successful re-election. On his last day, President Obama praised him again. He said Plouffe cared deeply about people and justice. Obama added that without Plouffe, the White House would not have been as effective.
After the White House
After leaving the White House, Plouffe became a contributor for Bloomberg TV and ABC News. In April 2013, he was honored by the American Association of Political Consultants.
Plouffe also met with Hillary Clinton in 2013 to help with her presidential campaign. In 2014, he became the Senior Vice President of Policy and Strategy at Uber. Uber is a company that provides ride services. Plouffe helped Uber deal with rules and laws in different places.
In 2016, Plouffe appeared on a TV show called Race for the White House. He also made some predictions about the 2016 election that turned out to be different from the actual results.
In January 2017, Mark Zuckerberg hired Plouffe to lead policy efforts at the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative. This organization works to improve the world through science and education. Plouffe helped guide their work with governments.
In September 2019, Plouffe joined the board of directors for ACRONYM. This group focuses on digital messages for political campaigns. He helps them with their programs and fundraising.
Plouffe also hosts a podcast called Campaign HQ with David Plouffe. In August 2024, he joined the Kamala Harris presidential campaign as a senior advisor. In June 2025, he joined the global advisory council of Coinbase, a company that deals with digital money.
Works
- Plouffe, David. The Audacity to Win: The Inside Story and Lessons of Barack Obama's Historic Victory, Viking Adult (November 3, 2009); ISBN: 978-0-670-02133-8
- A Citizen's Guide to Beating Donald Trump
Personal life
David Plouffe is married to Olivia Morgan. She has worked as an advisor for different organizations. The couple lives in San Francisco and has two children.
See also
In Spanish: David Plouffe para niños
- List of Barack Obama 2008 presidential campaign staff members
- Organizing for America
