MEET THE TEAM
JIMMY L. KEADY
FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT
Jimmy Keady is the Founder and President of JLK Political Strategies, an award-winning national Republican political consulting firm. Prior to founding his own firm, Jimmy served as the Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor to multiple members of Congress and Virginia Speakers of the House. He has consulted on races from coast to coast, delivering critical wins for his clients. In addition to his work in politics, Jimmy has also helped Fortune 500 companies craft strategies and navigate complex political landscapes. Jimmy is also a Partner in Point1, an award-winning mail firm that has helped elect Republicans to every office, from United States Senate down to Town Council.
With more than a decade of experience as a campaign strategist and a background on Capitol Hill, Jimmy is a highly sought-after commentator and columnist, frequently featured in major publications such as Fox News, Politico, The Washington Times, The Washington Post, and The Hill.
As President of JLK Political, Jimmy has consulted on major NRCC-targeted races and assembled a dynamic team that has delivered crucial wins for Republicans across the country. In 2021, Jimmy consulted multiple House of Delegates candidates, securing a landslide victory over a 14-year incumbent and flipping two highly competitive seats in the general election to secure a Republican majority. In 2023, Keady played an integral role in protecting vulnerable incumbents targeted by Democrats, including a D+12 district held by Republicans with a narrow 53-vote margin.
Thanks to his success, Keady is the go-to consultant for House Caucuses and campaigns across the country, seeking guidance on implementing winning strategies, improving messaging, and winning competitive races to defend and expand Republican majorities.
Jimmy Keady is a Maryland native and graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park, with a Bachelor's degree in Political Science in 2012. He currently lives in Richmond, Virginia, with his wife, Monica, their sons, JP and Nolan, and their Bernedoodle, Chunk.
KURT LOFQUIST
SENIOR GENERAL CONSULTANT
Kurt Lofquist serves as senior general consultant at JLK, running strategy and operations for many of their political campaigns across the country. He has worked in grassroots political outreach at the state and national level, run and won several local, state, and federal campaigns, and has served as a senior advisor to a member of Congress.
Prior to JLK, Kurt was a Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps Reserves from 2001 to 2009. He served two combat deployments to Iraq in 2003 and 2005. At home, he was a police officer in Virginia and North Carolina from 2004 to 2011, where he served as a patrol officer and on the SWAT team.
In 2012, he switched career tracks to politics and was recruited by Concerned Veterans for America. From 2012 to 2014, he ran grassroots field operations in Virginia and successfully lobbied Congress to support the Veterans Accountability Act of 2014 after the Phoenix VA Hospital scandal that year. He was promoted to State Director in 2015. During his time leading operations in the state, Virginia became the most efficient and effective state in the organization, leading the company in voter contacts and volunteer engagement.
In 2017, Kurt moved to campaign management full-time and began working with the Virginia House Republican Campaign Committee on two races in Northern Virginia. In 2018, after his 2018 victory, he joined Representative Denver Riggleman’s office as a senior advisor, splitting time in district and in Capitol Hill. Kurt then ran several races at the state and federal level before joining JLK full time in 2022 as a general consultant.
STEWART BRAGG
GENERAL CONSULTANT
Stewart Bragg serves as JLK Political’s newest General Consultant, serving clients throughout the Southeastern United States. Stewart has worked at all levels of campaigning for more than a decade.
Prior to joining JLK, Stewart worked on numerous political campaigns in Georgia, Florida, Virginia, New Mexico, and Louisiana, gaining a deep understanding of the political landscape in each state. His extensive experience most recently includes serving as the Political Director for the Georgia House Republican Caucus since 2023, where he oversaw all political activities for caucus members and candidates, including voter outreach, communications, and messaging.
Stewart's leadership roles in Georgia politics are particularly notable. He managed Lt. Governor Burt Jones’ successful 2022 campaign, helping secure a critical victory. Additionally, he served as the Executive Director for the Georgia Republican Party in 2020, where he played a key role in advancing the party’s objectives. Earlier, he was the RNC State Director for Virginia in 2018, coordinating the state’s political efforts during a pivotal election cycle.
Born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, Stewart has spent much of his career shaping political strategy and driving campaigns across the southeastern United States. Currently, he resides in Atlanta with his wife, Caroline, and their daughter, Kate Hampton.
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JAKE MATTHEWS
DIRECTOR OF MEDIA SERVICES
Jake works directly with all of JLK’s campaign, PAC, nonprofit, and corporate clients to achieve their public image and outreach goals. Jake joined JLK in 2022 and played an integral role in securing critical victories for Delegate Kim Taylor, Delegate Jason Ballard, Delegate Eric Phillips, and several other key races throughout Virginia. In his capacity with JLK, Jake has authored and placed more than 100 op-eds with multiple national outlets such as Fox News, The Wall Street Journal, Newsweek, and others. In 2024, Jake secured over 1,500 earned media hits for JLK and our clients.
Before joining JLK, Jake attended High Point University, where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and his Master’s Degree in Communication & Business Leadership. Jake previously worked for Congressman Mark Meadows, the 2020 Republican National Convention, and Election CFO, where he specialized in legal and financial compliance for PACs, nonprofits, and political campaigns.
KENDALL BAILEY
POLITICAL PROJECTS DIRECTOR
Kendall Bailey is the Political Projects Director for JLK Political Strategies, focused on advocacy and grassroots engagement. Kendall joined JLK in 2024, bringing more than a decade of collective experience in campaign politics, legislative affairs, and academic research.
Most recently, Kendall served as the Chief of Staff to a Virginia state senator and previously as the Legislative Aide to a member of the Virginia House of Delegates. Additionally, Kendall worked as a campaign manager, communications strategist, and voter mobilization specialist on campaigns for local and state legislative offices in Virginia.
A political scientist by training, Kendall has co-authored a book on congressional elections, and his research on American campaigns, elections, voter behavior, and the presidency has been published in peer-reviewed academic journals and The Washington Post. He has also taught college courses in U.S. Government, American Politics, Campaign Organizing & Mobilization, Political Parties & Interest Groups, and Quantitative Techniques.
Kendall is a native Virginian, born and raised in Lynchburg, Virginia. He holds a Ph.D. in Political Science from Northeastern University, along with B.A. and M.A. degrees in Political Science from Virginia Tech. He resides in Albemarle County with his wife, children, and cat “Asparagus.”
ADDISON MERRYMAN
DIRECTOR OF DATA & OUTREACH
Specializing in data-driven analytics and campaign operations, Addison joined JLK in 2023 to help provide its clients and candidates with a strategic edge. Since 2019, he has worked on campaigns from school board to the U.S. Senate. First as a political director and then as a campaign manager, he led now-Delegate Wren Williams’ campaign to victory in two successive, scorched-earth state primaries against sitting incumbents, winning by 26 and 34 points, respectively. He also served Williams as a legislative aide in the General Assembly during Williams’ first term as an elected official.
Addison graduated from Duke University in 2017 with a BA in history with distinction. Having lived on three continents, Addison and his wife, Erica, are now settled in Richmond across from Virginia’s most captivating museums. In his spare time, Addison enjoys competing in online chess, playing guitar, and ministering to his local church.
KATE DEWAN
COMMUNICATIONS & ADVOCACY ASSOCIATE
Originally from Michigan, Kate Dewan started with JLK Political Strategies as a summer intern in 2024. After completing the internship, she was hired as a full-time Communications and Advocacy Associate. Prior to joining JLK, Kate received her Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from High Point University. In her capacity, Kate acts as the chief graphic designer for all of JLK’s political, nonprofit, and corporate clients. Her work ranges from designing logos and social media graphics to digital banner ads and text graphics. She also works directly with our Founder and President to coordinate travel, meetings, and calendars for him and our elected clients.
In college, Kate worked for Wave Media Corporation and High Point University’s Office of Student Life and served as her sorority’s Vice President of Academic Excellence. In her free time, Kate enjoys traveling and visiting Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains.
ERIC DICUS
BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP MANAGER
Raised in Louisiana, Eric Dicus graduated from Family Christian Academy before earning a Bachelor of Arts in History from Southeastern Louisiana University. Eric's career has spanned several fields, including political campaigning and sales. He has worked on numerous campaigns, from special elections in Georgia to gubernatorial races in Virginia, gaining extensive experience in political strategy, voter outreach, and grassroots mobilization. These experiences have sharpened Eric's ability to navigate complex political landscapes and communicate effectively with diverse groups of people.
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In addition to his work in politics, Eric has developed a strong foundation in sales, including automotive sales and products designed to improve the operations of multifamily complexes. This experience has honed his skills in customer relationship management, problem-solving, and understanding client needs. Eric's diverse background has equipped him with a unique skill set that blends strategic thinking with a customer-focused approach, positioning him to thrive in dynamic environments. Eric has worked for JLK Political since 2022 and currently resides in Charleston, South Carolina.