National Press Secretary, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.)

Doug Andres is one of the Capitol’s best communicators, and he does his job the old-fashioned way: walking the halls of the Senate to find out what reporters are focusing on and helping to put his boss’s message at the top of the conversation.

He has been the national press secretary for Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) since April 2019, and in that time has helped his boss navigate some of the biggest political dramas of the past decade.including former President Trump’s two impeachment trials and the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.

Andres played a leading role in shaping the Republican message during the COVID-19 pandemic, when McConnell was at the center of negotiations to keep the economy from collapsing after health officials called for strict quarantines across the country.

He works daily with reporters, answering questions, pitching stories and shaping the narrative on Capitol Hill. He advises and helps McConnell prepare for weekly news conferences and media interviews and strategizes for major political events, such as Supreme Court confirmation battles.

“Dougie has been at the forefront of the leader’s office for five years and is one of the most beloved and respected communicators on Capitol Hill,” said Josh Holmes, a senior adviser and former top aide to McConnell. “Reporters come to him for his frank speech and clear perspective, with his characteristic quick wit. Everyone looks to him for last-minute advice on how to shape the debate in Congress.”

Before coming to the Senate, Andres served 11 years in the House, including three years as press secretary to then-Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), which spanned the first two years of President Trump’s term and the gargantuan battles over repeal of the Affordable Care Act and tax reform.

Andres has devoted significant time in his leadership role in the House of Representatives to rapid response and crisis communications in a difficult political environment, amid internal Republican battles over major policy and political issues.

In the Senate, he worked closely with McConnell, who is seen as the master of communication discipline and the ability to resist the daily media hype.

Since arriving in the upper house, Andres has completed his expertise in crisis communication by becoming highly skilled in developing the key message and transmitting it on a daily basis, just like his boss.

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