Ed Gillespie Biography Quotes 31 Report mistakes

Early Life and Education
Edward W. Gillespie was born on August 1, 1961, in Mount Holly Township, New Jersey, and grew up in South Jersey. Drawn to politics at an early age, he moved to Washington, D.C., to attend The Catholic University of America, where he earned a bachelor's degree in 1983. While in college he took an entry-level job as a parking lot attendant at the United States Senate, a humble vantage point that gave him daily exposure to the rhythms of national politics and first-hand contact with people who worked on Capitol Hill.

Early Career in Republican Politics
After graduation Gillespie worked his way onto congressional staffs and communications teams, building a reputation as a disciplined message strategist. His most formative early professional relationship was with Representative Dick Armey of Texas, who would become House Majority Leader. Serving as Armey's communications director and adviser, Gillespie was closely involved in shaping Republican messaging during the 1990s, including the period surrounding the GOP's surge in the 1994 midterm elections. That experience cemented his status as a go-to counselor for lawmakers seeking to connect policy to persuasive public narratives.

Entrepreneurship and Bipartisan Public Affairs
In 2000 Gillespie co-founded the Washington public affairs and lobbying firm Quinn Gillespie & Associates with Jack Quinn, a former White House counsel in the Clinton administration. The partnership, notable for pairing a prominent Republican strategist with a Democratic counterpart, reflected Gillespie's practical approach to advocacy in the nation's capital. He later founded his own consulting shop, advising corporate and political clients on strategy, public policy, and communications.

National Campaigns and Party Leadership
Gillespie rose to national prominence through his work on Republican presidential politics. He advised Governor George W. Bush's 2000 campaign and remained part of the Bush political orbit through the ensuing years, working alongside figures such as Karl Rove. In 2003 he was elected chairman of the Republican National Committee, serving through the 2004 cycle. As RNC chair he collaborated with campaign manager Ken Mehlman and other senior operatives to help guide the Bush-Cheney reelection effort, refine voter-contact operations, and synchronize national, state, and local party work.

Counselor to the President
In 2007 Gillespie joined the White House as Counselor to President George W. Bush, succeeding Dan Bartlett. In that West Wing role he helped coordinate communication strategy and policy rollout during a particularly challenging period that included debates over the Iraq troop surge, the final years of the administration's domestic agenda, and the onset of the 2008 financial crisis. The position placed him at the center of decision-making, working with senior staff and Cabinet officials to frame the administration's case to the public and to Congress.

State-Level Strategy
Beyond national campaigns, Gillespie invested heavily in party-building at the state level. As a leader at the Republican State Leadership Committee, he supported efforts to recruit candidates and win control of state legislative chambers in the 2010 cycle, a pivotal year for redistricting and policy direction. His focus on states underscored a belief that durable political change often starts below the federal level.

Virginia Campaigns
Having settled in Northern Virginia, Gillespie entered the electoral arena himself. In 2014 he became the Republican nominee for the U.S. Senate in Virginia, challenging incumbent Democrat Mark Warner. Though widely seen as an underdog at the outset, Gillespie ran a disciplined campaign that tightened dramatically in the closing weeks; he ultimately lost by a narrow margin after deciding against a prolonged recount fight. In 2017 he sought the governorship of Virginia. He won the Republican nomination in a close primary, edging Corey Stewart while also facing state senator Frank Wagner, then lost the general election to Democrat Ralph Northam. Those races highlighted both his strengths as a communicator and the complexities of building a statewide coalition in a rapidly changing Commonwealth.

Authorship and Public Voice
Gillespie is the author of Winning Right, a book that distills lessons from modern campaigns and offers a window into his approach to message discipline, voter targeting, and coalition management. After leaving government he returned to consulting and public affairs, offering strategic counsel to companies, nonprofits, and political committees, and appearing in media as a commentator on party dynamics and electoral strategy.

Personal Life
Gillespie is married to Cathy Gillespie, a civic leader and advocate involved in education and public service initiatives. The couple has three children and has long made a home in Northern Virginia. Family considerations and a preference for building institutions have often shaped his decisions about when to serve, when to run, and when to return to private life.

Legacy and Influence
Ed Gillespie's career traces an arc from a Senate parking lot to the West Wing, encompassing roles as communicator, coalition builder, party chairman, and candidate. His collaborations with George W. Bush, Dick Armey, Karl Rove, Ken Mehlman, and Jack Quinn placed him at key junctions of policy, politics, and bipartisan advocacy. In Virginia, contests against Mark Warner and Ralph Northam defined his public profile as a candidate, while his behind-the-scenes work at the RNC and the Republican State Leadership Committee shaped Republican fortunes well beyond a single cycle. Across decades, his imprint is evident in the professionalization of campaign operations, the integration of communications with data-driven fieldwork, and the enduring importance he placed on relationships in a business ultimately powered by people.

Our collection contains 31 quotes who is written by Ed, under the main topics: Wisdom - Justice - Leadership - Freedom - Faith.