Pittsburgh native Larry Hailsham Jr. named executive director of Pa. Democratic Party

Pittsburgh native Larry Hailsham Jr., a top aide to Gov. Josh Shapiro, has been named executive director of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party.

State Democrats also announced this week that Shapiro donated $250,000 to the party as it gears up for pivotal elections in November and next year.

Hailsham was appointed by Democratic Party Chairman Eugene DePasquale, a former auditor general and state representative who was elected about a month ago to lead the party.

“Larry is stepping into this role at a critical time for our party, for our commonwealth and for our country. I know that with his leadership and alongside the team we are building, the Pennsylvania Democratic Party is going to meet this moment,” DePasquale, also of Pittsburgh, said in an Oct. 1 statement.

Hailsham, a graduate of City Charter High School in Pittsburgh and Allegheny College, worked on the winning campaigns of former U.S. Sen. Bob Casey in 2018, former President Joe Biden in 2020 and Shapiro in 2022. He also served as special assistant to Casey and as executive deputy chief of staff in Shapiro’s gubernatorial office.

“I am honored to step into this role and continue working to build our party and elect Democrats up and down the ballot in order to keep Pennsylvania moving forward,” Hailsham said in a statement.

Hailsham replaces Mitch Kates as executive director. Kates will continue to serve as director of party affairs and adviser for strategic planning.