History of Scott Jennings in Timeline

Scott Jennings is an American conservative political strategist, commentator, and writer. He is known for his work in Republican politics and frequently appears on television and in print media offering political analysis and commentary. He has held various roles in political campaigns and administrations, providing strategic advice and insights on political issues.

Sections (2)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements

October 26, 1977: Scott Jennings Born

On October 26, 1977, Scott Jennings, who would become an American conservative political strategist, commentator, and writer, was born.

2000: New Mexico Lost to Al Gore

In 2000, New Mexico narrowly lost to Al Gore by just 366 votes, leading to Jennings's involvement in the state during the 2004 election.

2000: Directed Political Operations for Bush's Campaign

In 2000, Scott Jennings directed the political operations for George W. Bush's presidential campaign, helping Bush win Kentucky against Al Gore.

2000: Received Bachelor's Degree

In 2000, Scott Jennings received his bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Louisville, where he was a McConnell Scholar, marking a significant achievement in his education.

2000: Staff Member of Bush's Presidential Campaign

In 2000, Scott Jennings served as a staff member of George W. Bush's presidential campaign in Kentucky, marking an early role in his political career.

2000: Political Director for Bush's Kentucky Campaign

In 2000, Scott Jennings served as political director for President George W. Bush's Kentucky campaign, marking an early stage in his political career.

2002: Campaign Manager for McConnell's Re-election

In 2002, Scott Jennings served as campaign manager for Senator Mitch McConnell's re-election campaign, solidifying his role in Kentucky politics.

2002: Part of McConnell's Campaign for U.S. Senate

In 2002, Scott Jennings was involved in Mitch McConnell's campaign for the U.S. Senate, establishing a long-standing association.

2003: Directed Political Operations for Fletcher's Campaign

In 2003, Scott Jennings directed the political operations for Ernie Fletcher's gubernatorial campaign, leading to Fletcher becoming the first Republican governor in Kentucky in over 30 years.

2003: Campaign Manager for Fletcher's Campaign

In 2003, Scott Jennings served as campaign manager for Governor Ernie Fletcher's campaign, further expanding his campaign management experience.

2004: Campaign Manager for Bush's New Mexico Campaign

In 2004, Scott Jennings served as campaign manager for George W. Bush's campaign in New Mexico, contributing to the state flipping from blue to red.

2004: Executive Director of Bush's Re-election Campaign

In 2004, Scott Jennings was the executive director of George W. Bush's re-election campaign in New Mexico, further establishing his expertise in political campaigns.

2004: Managed Bush's Campaign in New Mexico

In early 2004, Scott Jennings managed President Bush's re-election campaign in New Mexico, repairing the damaged Republican party and ultimately leading Bush to win the state.

October 2005: Named Special Assistant to the President

In October 2005, Scott Jennings was named special assistant to the president after serving as associate director in the Office of Political Affairs at the White House.

February 2006: Appointed Special Assistant to the President

In February 2006, Scott Jennings was appointed special assistant to President George W. Bush and deputy director of political affairs during the George W. Bush administration, marking a significant milestone in his career.

January 26, 2007: Present at GSA Meeting

On January 26, 2007, Scott Jennings was present at a meeting where GSA Administrator Lurita Doan discussed ways to help Republican candidates via video conference with top GSA political appointees, sparking an inquiry into the politicization of the General Services Administration (GSA).

March 2007: Communicated with Justice Department Officials

In March 2007, it was revealed that Scott Jennings communicated with Justice Department officials regarding the appointment of Tim Griffin using an e-mail account registered to the Republican National Committee (RNC), raising ethical concerns.

April 23, 2007: OSC Investigated January Video Conference

On April 23, 2007, the U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) announced it was investigating the January 26, 2007 video conference attended by Scott Jennings to look at whether the political dealings of the White House had violated the Hatch Act.

August 2, 2007: Testified Before Senate Judiciary Committee

On August 2, 2007, Scott Jennings testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee regarding the dismissal of U.S. attorneys controversy. He invoked executive privilege and refused to answer most questions, which Democrats contested as a "bogus claim".

2008: Resumed Work in Kentucky

In 2008, Scott Jennings resumed his work in Kentucky, helping U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell, Congressman Brett Guthrie, and state legislative Republicans win their races.

2008: Part of McConnell's Campaign for U.S. Senate

In 2008, Scott Jennings was involved in Mitch McConnell's campaign for the U.S. Senate, establishing a long-standing association.

2012: Co-founding RunSwitch PR

In 2012, Scott Jennings co-founded RunSwitch PR in Louisville, Kentucky, marking a significant entrepreneurial venture.

2013: Contributing Columnist to Louisville Courier-Journal

In 2013, Scott Jennings became a contributing columnist to the Louisville Courier-Journal, writing a conservative column that appears every other Wednesday, and is frequently picked up by USA Today.

2013: Writing for Louisville Courier-Journal

Since 2013, Scott Jennings has been writing a regular column for the Louisville Courier-Journal, which is sometimes republished by USA Today, expanding his influence as a commentator.

July 2014: Comments on Party Unity

In July 2014, Scott Jennings told radio station WFPL that he believed "the party is coming together just fine and I don't detect any problems for McConnell on GOP unity."

2014: Part of McConnell's Campaign for U.S. Senate

In 2014, Scott Jennings was involved in Mitch McConnell's campaign for the U.S. Senate, establishing a long-standing association.

2016: Commentator on Fox News Channel

During the 2016 presidential election, Scott Jennings appeared frequently on the Fox News Channel and other outlets as a commentator discussing polling and political news, enhancing his public profile.

Loading Video...

2016: Kentuckians for Strong Leadership Supported Republicans

In 2016, Scott Jennings' Super PAC, Kentuckians for Strong Leadership (KSL), spent $2 million on 19 legislative races, helping Republicans gain control of the Kentucky House of Representatives, going from a 53-47 minority to a 64-36 super majority.

June 2017: Joined CNN as On-Air Political Contributor

In June 2017, Scott Jennings joined CNN as an on-air political contributor, making numerous appearances on various programs.

2017: Turned Down Senior Role in Trump White House

In 2017, Scott Jennings was offered but turned down a senior role in the Trump White House, a significant decision in his career path.

2017: Signed as On-Air Contributor by CNN

In 2017, Scott Jennings was signed as an on-air contributor by CNN, marking a significant step in his media career.

2018: Resident Fellow at Harvard Institute of Politics

In 2018, Scott Jennings was named a resident fellow at the Harvard Institute of Politics at Harvard Kennedy School, where he taught seminars on tribalism in American politics.

2018: Won Society of Professional Journalists Award

In 2018, Scott Jennings won a Society of Professional Journalists award for his Courier-Journal writing, acknowledging his contributions to journalism.

2019: Joined Los Angeles Times as Columnist

In 2019, Scott Jennings joined the Los Angeles Times as a columnist, expanding his reach as a political commentator.

2019: Made Ads for Daniel Cameron

In 2019, Scott Jennings made television and radio ads for Attorney General Daniel Cameron, who became the first stand-alone African-American candidate to win statewide office in Kentucky.

2019: Adjunct Lecturer in Public Policy

In 2019, Scott Jennings was an Adjunct Lecturer in Public Policy, teaching a course on modern American political campaigns, adding to his academic contributions.

2021: Won Society of Professional Journalists Award

In 2021, Scott Jennings won a Society of Professional Journalists award for his Courier-Journal writing, marking a second award acknowledging his contributions to journalism.

2022: Launched Flyover Country Podcast

In 2022, Scott Jennings launched the podcast Flyover Country with Scott Jennings, featuring commentary on political issues and interviews, expanding his media presence.

November 2024: Joined the Times' Editorial Board

In November 2024, Scott Jennings joined the Los Angeles Times' editorial board, signifying a significant role in shaping the newspaper's opinions.

June 2025: Comments on Free Palestine Movement and Gaza

In early June 2025, Scott Jennings referred to the Free Palestine movement as a "domestic terror organization" and the Gaza genocide as a "conspiracy theory."