Jay McCleskey
Jay McCleskey is President of McCleskey Media Strategies and brings over 25 years of experience running campaigns. His clients have included candidates at all levels, as well as major national party organizations such as the Republican Governors Association and the National Republican Congressional Committee.
McCleskey has specialized in winning tough elections in Democrat states and districts.
In both 2010 and 2014, McCleskey served as the lead consultant for Susana Martinez’ gubernatorial campaigns and acted as Governor Martinez’s Chief Political Advisor during her 8 years in office.
During Martinez’ first campaign, McCleskey produced all her paid media, direct mail, and was the chief campaign strategist for Martinez, who became New Mexico’s first female governor and the first Hispanic female elected governor in U.S. history. She was re-elected by 15 percentage points, receiving 49% of the Hispanic vote and winning by the largest margin for a Republican gubernatorial candidate in state history.
One of the ads McCleskey produced for the Martinez campaign was awarded the Best Statewide GOP Ad in America by Campaigns and Elections Magazine. The ad can be seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JwvCYBibdBM
McCleskey has proudly served as the media consultant for Congressman Tony Gonzales in Texas-23 beginning with the ultra-competitive 2020 primary. As the Texas Tribune reported regarding the 2020 general election, “Democrats expressed surefire confidence that the seat was theirs” as Hillary Clinton carried the district by 4 percentage points. Gonzales surprised all the doubters by winning the district by 4 percentage points.
In both 2022 and 2024, McCleskey served as Gonzales’ media consultant and is proud to have helped him win the 2024 primary – a race that became one of the hottest primaries in the country.
McCleskey has produced media ads for statewide candidates since 2002. In 2023, McCleskey won the Pollie Award for the Best Radio Ad for a Candidate for Governor. The ad was titled, “Prison Calls” and can be heard here: https://youtu.be/LvEmfctNEXE
In 2014, 2016, and 2018 McCleskey served as a media consultant for the Republican Governors Association in multiple states. This included producing television advertisements for the successful re-election effort on behalf of Governor John Sununu in New Hampshire. In Vermont, McCleskey managed the direct mail campaign for the RGA that helped elect Governor Phil Scott, a remarkable election in a Bernie Sanders state. In Arizona, McCleskey was the lead consultant for the RGA multi-million-dollar IE campaign to elect Doug Ducey as Governor.
In both 2009 and 2013, McCleskey served as chief strategist for Richard Berry. Mayor Berry was the first Republican mayor in Albuquerque in 25 years in an upset victory over incumbent Marty Chavez. McCleskey won two National “Pollie” awards for a Berry ad entitled, “Truck.” That ad can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QF5Lp4Nh1gs
female elected governor in U.S. history
One of the ads McCleskey produced for the Martinez campaign was awarded the Best Statewide GOP Ad in America in 2011 by Campaigns and Elections Magazine.
In the 2014 re-election campaign, McCleskey served as chief strategist for Martinez, as well as producing all of her paid media. In a state President Obama carried twice, Martinez was re-elected by 15 percentage points, receiving 49 percent of the Hispanic vote and winning by the largest margin for a Republican gubernatorial candidate in state history.
In 2018 McCleskey served as the media consultant for the Republican Governors Association in multiple states, including producing television advertisements for the successful re-election effort on behalf of Governor John Sununu in New Hampshire.
McCleskey Media also served as a direct mail and digital consultant for the Republican Party of Kentucky in 2018 for multiple state legislative that helped elect a veto-proof majority in the Kentucky state house.
In 2016, McCleskey produced television for the Republican Governors Association successful campaign in New Hampshire, helping elect Gov. John Sununu. In Vermont, McCleskey managed the direct mail campaign for the RGA that helped elect Governor Phil Scott, a remarkable election in a Bernie Sanders state.
Back in New Mexico in 2016, McCleskey managed the independent expenditure effort that defeated State Senator Michael Sanchez, the majority leader who had served for over two decades. Two of the commercials in that race won 2017 Pollie Awards. McCleskey also served as the media consultant for the successful statewide campaign of Supreme Court Justice Judy Nakamura, the first Republican elected to the court in 36 years.
In addition to handling Governor Martinez’s re-election in 2014, McCleskey served as the chief strategist for the independent expenditure campaign effort that led to Republicans winning control of the New Mexico House of Representatives for the first time since 1952. That same cycle, McCleskey also served as the media consultant for two major statewide GOP victories.
McCleskey additionally served as the lead consultant for the Republican Governors Association independent expenditure effort in Arizona, which helped elect Governor Doug Ducey in 2014.
In both 2009 and 2013, McCleskey served as chief strategist for Richard Berry. Mayor Berry was the first Republican mayor in Albuquerque in 25 years in an upset victory over incumbent Marty Chavez. McCleskey won two National “Pollie” awards for a Berry ad entitled, “Truck.” In 2013, McCleskey led Berry’s campaign to a 39-point victory.
From 2005 to 2009, McCleskey served as the Regional Political Director (RPD) for the Republican National Committee and managed the RNC’s political operations in 10 states, while assisting dozens of the most competitive campaigns in the country.
In 2004, McCleskey ran the RNC’s Victory operation for President Bush’s re-election campaign in New Mexico, which was one of only two states to change from blue to red.
Prior to that, McCleskey served as Executive Director of the Republican Party of New Mexico.
Jay is married to Nicole and are raising two children (and two yellow labs) in Albuquerque, New Mexico. In his spare time, McCleskey coaches a youth basketball travel team.
