Most recently, MJ served as Deputy Floor Director for Senate Democratic Whip Richard J. Durbin (D-IL). In this role, he provided daily strategic advice to the Senator and members of the Democratic caucus on all pending matters on the Senate floor. For nearly a decade, MJ advised Senator Durbin and his staff on how best to advance the Senator’s legislative priorities from immigration to health care and tax legislation. He managed the Senator’s daily floor messaging, which led to the elevation of key priorities such as the DREAM Act, and was also responsible for helping generate the Senator’s amendment strategy for every piece of legislation that received floor consideration from the 112th to the 116th Congresses. He also provided counsel on the Senate’s complex rules, knowing how to use the procedures of the institution to achieve legislative and political success both in the majority and minority.

MJ has worked with each Senate committee to help usher major legislative and executive items through the Senate and played a key role in determining weekly caucus floor strategy, developing a distinguished reputation as a skilled political staffer. He worked on multiple Farm Bill and surface transportation reauthorizations, the yearly appropriations bills, the often-lengthy budget caps and debt debates, and the annual National Defense Authorization Act. As a senior leadership aide, he regularly briefed House Democratic Legislative Directors on all matters related to the Senate.

Prior to serving as Deputy Floor Director, MJ was a Legislative Aide to Senator Durbin on issues related to transportation, trade, and agriculture. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from Northwestern University and originally hails from Bethesda, Maryland.