---

Missouri GOP Names Austin Stukins Executive Director

JEFFERSON CITY, MO — Today, following a national search, the Missouri Republican Party named Austin Stukins its Executive Director.

Stukins, who served as a U.S. Marine in Iraq and under the Joint Chiefs of Staff at the Pentagon, is also a veteran of successful campaigns to elect Republicans at the local, state, and national levels. He currently serves as policy advisor to Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry, after working on Landry’s campaign in 2015.  In the 2016 cycle, Stukins was hired as an RNC State Director and helped to take Donald Trump from being down four points to winning by six points in the state of Georgia.

“We are pleased to announce the hiring of Austin Stukins, and I’m confident he will be highly effective in the role of Executive Director,” said Todd Graves, Chairman of the Missouri Republican Party.  “Stukins is a U.S. Marine and war veteran, serving our country both at the Pentagon and while on deployment to Iraq.  Austin also has an advanced political background and a reputation for growing Republican leadership across the country.  Stukins has a specific vision for this state, and there’s no question that under his leadership Missouri will become a national model among other state party organizations.”

Most notably, Stukins successfully led efforts on behalf of the Republican Party of Louisiana to unseat veteran Louisiana democrat, U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu, in 2014.

“Missouri is a state that hungers for conservative leadership, as proven by recent gains in elected positions held by Republicans,” Stukins said. “It is my goal to help broaden the gains and expand upon the previous efforts that have turned Missouri red. It’s a new day in Missouri and, with Republican leadership and a unified front, I am convinced that we will not only defeat Claire McCaskill, but also foster the growth of a Republican Party in Missouri that will Keep Missouri Red for generations to come.”

Stukins comes to the MOGOP from Baton Rouge, Louisiana and will start work in Jefferson City March 27, 2017, relieving Acting Executive Director Kristen Blanchard Ansley who served the Party during the transition period.