Election Preview

For 36 years, David Kochel has been in the trenches of GOP campaign politics. Based in Iowa for most of his career, Kochel brings an outside-the-beltway perspective to politics.

He spent several cycles studying at the foot of the nation’s longest-serving governor, Terry Branstad. He went on to lead state party organizations in Iowa and Michigan, and then began consulting for clients from coast to coast as the founder of Redwave Communications, a full service consulting and voter contact firm. Kochel has been an inside participant in six presidential campaigns. 

In 2018, Kochel helped guide the reelection effort of Gov. Kim Reynolds. In October of 2015, Kochel was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, while leading the campaign of former Gov. Jeb Bush. Following his recovery, Kochel served as a Resident Fellow at the Harvard Institute of Politics lecturing on the asymmetry of the 2016 presidential campaign.

In 2014, Kochel was a key strategist and early backer of US Sen. Joni Ernst, organizing her debate prep and earned media messaging, beating better-funded primary and general election opponents. He remains a senior adviser to Sen. Ernst, working closely with the 2020 campaign on messaging and strategy.

Kochel is currently active in campaigns in Iowa, Colorado, Montana, Washington state, and California.