Nancy Jacobson Biography
Nancy Jacobson (born November 9, 1962) is an American political activist. A former fundraiser for the Democratic Party, she later became founder and CEO of the centrist organization No Labels.
Early career
Jacobson was born in Miami and graduated from Syracuse University. Jacobson's first political organizing occurred as a student at Syracuse University, where she organized a fundraising event to support then-Senator Gary Hart's 1984 campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination.
She supported Al Gore’s presidential campaign in 1988, and Bill Clinton's presidential campaign in 1991, and was the finance director of the 1992 Presidential Inaugural Committee. She later served as finance chair of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and the Democratic Leadership Council (DLC).
From 1995 through 2010, she was the national finance director for Sen. Evan Bayh. She oversaw his political and fundraising strategy during his 2008 bid for the Democratic presidential nomination. In 2007, Jacobson was named one of the 50 Most Powerful People in D.C. by GQ Magazine. She has also been referred to as "one of the most powerful women in Washington."
No Labels
Jacobson founded No Labels in 2010 with the stated goal of promoting bipartisanship. The organization has put forth ideas that it claims will "put problem solving above politics", and purports to support centrist, moderate social and economic policies.
The No Labels group has been instrumental in the creation of the Problem Solvers Caucus. A number of proposals supported by the group have been signed into law. In 2021, the Problem Solvers Caucus, composed of an equal number of Democrats and Republicans, released a "Building Bridges" blueprint for a bipartisan infrastructure deal. It was the first deal to be endorsed by Republicans and Democrats during that budget cycle. In connection with her work with No Labels, New York Times columnist David Brooks described her as an "undeterrable" leader.
No Labels has been accused of fostering a toxic environment by former employees, with Nancy Jacobson alleged to have engaged in abusive practices.
Personal and family
Jacobson is married to Mark Penn, President and Managing Partner of The Stagwell Group, former Democratic pollster and executive for Microsoft and Burson-Marsteller. The couple met in 1996 when Evan Bayh, then governor of Indiana, introduced them at a Democratic Leadership Council event. They married in 1999. They have four children.
Notes
References
External links
- Appearances on C-SPAN
