Ken Mehlman - Definition and Overview

Ken Mehlman is the chair of the Republican National Committee. He served as the campaign manager for George W. Bush's 2004 re-election campaign, and was Bush's choice to replace Ed Gillespie as the chair of the Republican National Committee. Mehlman was elected to the post on January 19, 2005.

Mehlman previously served Bush as the White House Director of Political Affairs and as the field director for his 2000 campaign. Before joining President Bush, Mehlman was Congresswoman Kay Granger’s (TX-12) Chief of Staff and Congressman Lamar Smith’s (TX-21) Legislative Director. He practiced environmental law in Washington and assisted campaigns in Massachusetts, Ohio, Virginia, Texas, and Georgia, as well as the 1992 and 1996 Presidential campaigns.

Mehlman is a graduate of Harvard Law School and received his undergraduate degree from Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He is a native of Baltimore, Maryland.