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Jan. 2, 2024 |  By: Rudi Keller - Missouri Independent

Missouri House Republicans choose Axiom Strategies executive to lead campaign effort

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By Rudi Keller - Missouri Independent

Missouri House Republicans tapped an executive of a top GOP consulting firm to direct their campaign efforts after shifting a long-time strategist out of the job.

Hannah Beers Sutton of Axiom Strategies will be executive director of the House Republican Campaign Committee, Majority Leader Jon Patterson said. She will replace Jonathan Ratliff, a partner in Palm Strategic who has been leading the House Republican campaign effort for 14 years.

Ratliff will be retained as a “senior consultant,” the announcement of his departure stated.

Beers Sutton stood out because of her experience, her relationships and her political skills, Patterson said in an interview with The Independent.

“She’s going to do a great job,” Patterson said.

Beers Sutton steps in at a time of strained relations between House and Senate Republicans. The Missouri Supreme Court is considering a challenge to the Senate district map approved by a judicial commission in 2022 and, under Ratliff’s direction, the House Republican Campaign Committee filed a brief supporting the challenge.

The filing caught Senate Republican leaders off guard and they responded with a filing of their own, accusing the House Republican Campaign Committee of seeking changes to benefit a handful of members.

Arguments in the case are scheduled for Jan. 24.

Ratliff’s departure was announced a week after the filing. Along with upsetting Senate Republicans, many House Republicans were discontented with his work because they had little control over decisions.

The committee raises large sums and then uses it in targeted efforts to win close races.

“Hannah has made it very clear that she’s going to have transparency as one of her priorities,” Patterson said.

In a news release about the selection, Beers Sutton said she expects a tough election year.

“In the face of a daunting 2024 cycle, defending our supermajority is of the utmost importance,” Beers Sutton said. “Now is the time to put our heads down and get to work.”

A 2016 graduate of Evangel University, Beers Sutton worked on several Missouri campaigns before becoming chief of staff to then-Sen. Ryan Silvey in 2017. She joined Axiom in 2018. She currently serves as vice president of Clout Public Affairs, the lobbying arm of Axiom.

Axiom was founded in 2006 by Jeff Roe, who got his start in politics working for U.S. Rep. Sam Graves. It has grown into a national firm, becoming the main strategist for presidential campaigns by Mike Huckabee in 2008 and Sen. Ted Cruz in 2016. 

Axiom has numerous clients in the legislature, working for 10 of the Republican Senators elected in 2022 and nearly two dozen House members.

Axiom recently severed its ties with Never Back Down, the PAC backing Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ presidential campaign.