Resume

Joel Watson, Jr. Resume

Deputy Secretary of State for
Outreach Services
Louisiana Department of State

Communicate with media outlets on behalf of the Department of State and the Secretary of State on matters related to elections, election statistics, and policy initiatives, including interviews and press releases.
Coordinate with divisions within the Department of State on communications and policy-related matters.
Manage office social media accounts.
Communicate with government agencies and officials at the local, state, and federal levels on matters related to election-related legislation and policy, including speaking on election policy panels.
Create and spearhead policy initiatives, such as the December 19, 2022 ban on accessing TikTok on Department of State-owned devices, which received earned media valued at over $55 million and a worldwide audience of over two billion people, and the 2022 NASS IDEAS Award nomination presentation, which earned the Louisiana Department of State national recognition for its work in executing elections after major hurricanes in 2020 and 2021.
Craft a tracking list of important and applicable legislation during the Louisiana Legislative Session.
Analyze and present voter data and turnout models.
Plan and manage Department-related task force and commission meetings, such as the Louisiana Voting System Commission.
Write speeches for the Secretary of State and other officials within the Department of State.
Prepare the Secretary of State for panels, presentations, and legislative testimony.
Develop and execute a voter education and outreach plan.

Account Manager
LR3 Consulting

Managed accounts of various political clients in Louisiana and Arkansas at the local, state, and federal levels.
Led grassroots efforts for statewide candidates Kyle Ardoin (elected Louisiana Secretary of State in 2018) and John Schroder (elected Louisiana State Treasurer in 2017), and local candidate Breanne Davis (elected Arkansas State Senator in 2018).
Wrote speeches for statewide and local candidates.
Managed social media for statewide and local candidates, and the Louisiana House Republican Delegation (2018).
Managed debate and forum preparation for statewide and local candidates.
Accurately studied and analyzed real-time election turnout data to craft a get-out-the-vote effort in two statewide races.

Regional Field Director
National Republican Senatorial Committee

Contracted with the NRSC during the runoff election period to successfully elect John Kennedy to the United States Senate.
Organized a team of volunteers and interns to make contact with over 26,000 Louisiana voters in three weeks in support of candidate Kennedy.
Led the Baton Rouge field office to make the most voter contacts of all field offices in Louisiana.

Regional Field Coordinator
The Leadership Institute

Recruited and trained political activists on political technologies and public policy processes.
Oversaw creating, re-establishing, and strengthening campus political organizations in Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Arizona, and Nevada.