Charles E. Luntz

Kellyanne Conway, born January 20, 1967, is an American political consultant and pollster. She achieved prominence as the first woman to manage a successful U.S. presidential campaign, serving as campaign manager for Donald Trump in 2016. Conway was later appointed Senior Counselor to the President in the Trump administration, holding the position from 2017 to 2020. During her tenure, she was involved in various initiatives, including efforts to combat the opioid crisis.

Conway's career began in politics after law school, where she worked for a Republican polling firm before founding her own company, The Polling Company, in 1995. She consulted on consumer trends and provided political advice to various Republican figures. She also gained recognition as a media commentator in the 1990s, appearing on numerous news programs. In 2022, she joined Fox News as a contributor.

Born Kellyanne Elizabeth Fitzpatrick on January 20, 1967, in Camden, New Jersey, Conway was raised in Atco, New Jersey, by her mother, grandmother, and aunts following her parents' divorce when she was three. Her father was of German, English, and Irish descent, while her mother was of Italian heritage. Conway excelled academically, graduating as valedictorian from St. Joseph High School in 1985. Her formative years included significant work experience, spending eight summers on a blueberry farm, an experience she credits for instilling a strong work ethic and teaching her about life and business. She also achieved success in local pageants, winning the New Jersey Blueberry Princess title at 16 and the World Champion Blueberry Packing competition at 20. Conway pursued higher education at Trinity College in Washington, D.C., graduating magna cum laude with a degree in political science and earning honors for her Juris Doctor from George Washington University Law School in 1992.

After law school, Conway served as a judicial clerk before entering the field of political polling and consulting. She began as a research assistant for the Wirthlin Group and later chose to work for Luntz Research Companies, where she met founder Frank Luntz. In 1995, she established her own firm, The Polling Company, which specialized in consumer trends, particularly among women, and offered political consulting services. Her client list included major corporations and prominent Republican politicians such as Jack Kemp, Fred Thompson, Dan Quayle, Newt Gingrich, and Mike Pence. She served as a senior advisor to Gingrich's 2012 presidential campaign and represented Todd Akin in his Senate race. Conway also directed survey projects for various organizations, including American Express and ABC News, with her firm incorporating a division called WomanTrend.

In the 2016 presidential primaries, Conway initially endorsed Ted Cruz, chairing a pro-Cruz political action committee. Following Cruz's withdrawal, she joined Donald Trump's campaign as a senior advisor in July 2016 and was later appointed campaign manager in August, becoming the first woman to lead a successful U.S. presidential campaign. After Trump's victory, Conway was named Senior Counselor to the President, serving from 2017 to 2020. In this capacity, she oversaw White House efforts to combat the opioid overdose epidemic. Her tenure also saw controversy, including her use of the phrase "alternative facts" and calls for investigation into alleged ethics violations related to product endorsements. In 2019, the Office of Special Counsel recommended her dismissal for Hatch Act violations, though she was not fired.

Conway has been a consistent presence in media commentary since the 1990s, alongside other prominent female conservative commentators. She appeared on numerous television and radio programs, offering insights on polling and politics for networks such as ABC, CBS, NBC, PBS, CNN, MSNBC, and Fox News. Her accurate predictions in the 2004 election earned her the Washington Post's "Crystal Ball" award. In 2022, she joined Fox News as a contributor, participating in various programs and election coverage. In July 2024, it was announced she would host a weekly program on Fox Nation.

“The faster you went, the more money you'd make”

“Everything I learned about life and business started on that farm”

“Kate McKinnon clearly sees the road to the future runs through me and not Hillary.”