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Caught Our Eye

Rep. King's new chief wrote the book on grassroots

Posted by Nate Hoffman on April 7, 2014

Rep. Steve King's (R-Iowa) new top aide wrote the book on grassroots advocacy. Literally. 

In 2007, Stanford University Press published Chris Hull's book, "Grassroots Rule: How the Iowa Caucus Helps Elect American Presidents," which grew out of his Ph.D. work.

Hull has worked as a grassroots advocate for more than two decades. After a summer internship with President George H.W. Bush in the summer of 1992, he volunteered for the president's unsuccessful 1992 campaign. Since Bush's failed re-election bid, Hull has worked on numerous Republican causes at both the national and state levels. He assisted the Republican National Committee's Young Voter Program as a media volunteer, served as the Republican Caucus staff director in the Iowa Senate and started his own grassroots-website, BlastRoots, in 2011. 

Hull does not only bring advocacy expertise to the Hill. From 1992-1993, he served as a legislative assistant and legislative correspondent for Sen. Conrad Burns (R-Mont.). The following year, he became the press secretary for Rep. Jon Lynn Christensen (R-Neb.). In addition, the Harvard graduate has worked for public affairs powerhouses DCI Group and Hill+Knowlton.

The Iowan congressman is facing a tough re-election bid against an Iraq War veteran, Jim Mowrer. His Democratic opponent out-fundraised him for the past two consecutive quarters.