Reince Priebus
Reinhold Richard "Reince" Priebus (born March 18, 1972) is an American attorney and Republican Party operative who served as chairman of the Republican National Committee (RNC) from 2011 to 2017 and as White House Chief of Staff under President Donald Trump from January 20 to July 28, 2017.[1][2][3] Born in Dover, New Jersey, to Richard and Dimitra Priebus, he was raised in Kenosha, Wisconsin, where he graduated from Tremper High School and later earned a bachelor's degree in political science and English from the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater in 1994, followed by a Juris Doctor from the University of Miami School of Law in 1998.[1][4][5] Priebus began his legal career at the firm Michael Best & Friedrich LLP in Milwaukee, while entering Republican politics as a clerk for the Wisconsin State Senate and general counsel to the Wisconsin Legislature.[2][5] He led the Republican Party of Wisconsin as chairman from 2005 to 2011, implementing data-driven strategies that contributed to Republican gains in state legislative elections and the 2010 gubernatorial victory of Scott Walker.[2] As RNC chairman, Priebus engineered a comprehensive restructuring known as the "Growth and Opportunity Project," which addressed post-2012 election weaknesses by modernizing fundraising—raising over $1 billion for candidates—enhancing data analytics, expanding grassroots outreach to underrepresented voter groups, and forging closer ties with presidential campaigns, culminating in the 2016 nomination and election of Trump.[6][7] His tenure marked the longest continuous service as RNC chair in modern history, transforming a debt-ridden organization into a financially robust operation.[8] Appointed White House Chief of Staff to coordinate the incoming administration's transition and operations, Priebus's six-month term ended amid internal power struggles and public reports of disorganization, making it the shortest for any non-interim holder of the position in U.S. history.[2][3][9] Following his White House departure, Priebus returned to Michael Best & Friedrich as a strategic advisor, leveraging his political expertise in corporate consulting.[2]