Israel appoints new DCCC executive director

Kelly Ward, a Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee veteran, will serve as the committee's chairwoman for the 2014 cycle, DCCC chairman Steve Israel (D-N.Y.) announced on Thursday.

Ward served as the DCCC's political director this past cycle, and as a regional political director for the committee for the 2010 cycle.

"Kelly brings the right mix of smart political instincts and experienced leadership to aggressively take on this Tea Party Republican majority," Israel said in a statement.

Roby Mook, the DCCC's current executive director, has stepped down from the position to run Terry McAuliffe's gubernatorial campaign in Virginia.

Two other DCCC staffers are receiving promotions for the 2014 cycle: Jesse Ferguson, communications director for the 2012 cycle, will remain in that role but has also been named deputy executive director.

And the committee's current national finance director Missy Kurek will be deputy executive director for finance for the 2014 cycle.

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