Steve Jarding has spent most of the past 25 years studying, teaching, writing, and working in American politics. In 1986 Jarding served as Executive director of the South Dakota Democratic Party during Rep. Tom Daschle’s battle for the U.S. Senate. In 1988 Jarding served as Communications Director in former Nebraska Gov. Bob Kerrey’s successful U.S. Senate bid. Between 1995 and 1996 Jarding served as Communications Director of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee in Washington D.C.

Citing Jarding’s work, Roll Call Magazine, in Sept. 1996, named Jarding one of the “50 most influential” political people in Washington. In 1998 Jarding ran Sen. Kerrey’s, successful Building America’s Conscience and Kids PAC. In 2001 he managed businessman Mark Warner’s bid to become Virginia’s governor. Warner won that race convincingly, becoming the first statewide Democrat to win rural Virginia in a generation. In 2002 Jarding served as Executive Director of North Carolina U.S. Sen. John Edwards’ leadership PAC, New American Optimists. For his efforts, in September 2002, Jarding was profiled in The New York Times Magazine, which touted his new innovative ideas to rebuild the Democratic Coalition. In 2003, Jarding served as a consultant to the presidential campaign of U.S. Sen. Bob Graham.

Jarding received his undergraduate degree from University of South Dakota and his master’s degree in political science from Oklahoma. Jarding has taught government and politics at the University of Oklahoma, George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia, and at American University in Washington, D.C.