DCCC Alum Cole Leiter Joins Purple

Having most recently served as Communications Director for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) during the 2020 election cycle and on the DCCC team that flipped the U.S. House in 2018, political communications and campaign strategist Cole Leiter has joined Purple Strategies as a director.

“The world’s most influential brands and corporate executives are increasingly expected to lead on issues and influence public debate in ways that may be new to them but are central to successful political campaigns. That is why Purple has always grounded our approach in political campaigns and why the campaign experience Cole brings to our team is such a valuable and in-demand asset,” said Steve McMahon, Purple co-founder and CEO. “From day one, Cole is making a difference for our clients and we’re happy to have him on our team.”

Working on and with federal campaigns from Florida to Texas to Maine, Cole brings valuable perspective on how campaigns, organizations and brands must work to intentionally connect with diverse audiences as they undergo massive demographic and behavioral shifts. He is experienced training principals to communicate their stories, with a focus on humanizing data-driven messages that persuade targeted audiences through personal narrative.

“Our world is changing rapidly and businesses that intentionally adapt to meet challenges and evolve with their customers are smartly positioning themselves for the long haul. The team here at Purple is unrivaled in their ability to help businesses identify and engage with that change. I look forward to bringing the same focus on authentic storytelling to our clients that I emphasized for the campaigns and teams I partnered with in Democratic politics,” Cole said.

Cole’s arrival continues to deepen the firm’s “Purple” political roots that bring a mix of “red” and “blue” perspectives to corporate challenges. Other political and campaign veterans who’ve joined Purple in recent months have included Jordan Davis, a Hill veteran most recently senior advisor to the House Energy & Commerce Committee and policy director and communications advisor at the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC); Jen Kohl, previously communications director for President Obama’s successful re-election campaign in Virginia as well as a Hill veteran; Jordan Jackson, previously with the Congressional Black Caucus PAC and Institute; Justin McCorvey, previously a legal fellow with the U.S. House; and Kayla Johnson, most recently a state digital director for the Biden for President campaign.

A native of Raleigh, North Carolina, Cole graduated from Williams College with a B.A. in Political Economy.