John McGovern has more than 15 years experience advising clients in all aspects of the public affairs field, including media, advertising, issue development, and strategic positioning.
As a result of his experience in politics and government, John not only understands the necessity of timely and accurate responses to public affairs challenges, but also appreciates the importance of developing proactive, comprehensive strategies that anticipate problems and focus on solutions.
Most recently, John was a top aide to former U.S. House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert. During his eight years with Speaker Hastert, John worked as both an official and campaign press secretary, and assumed a variety of other roles overseeing political communications, media relations, and campaign strategy.
John also served as Executive Director of Keep Our Majority PAC, Speaker Hastert’s national political action committee, through which John directed a national fundraising effort, acted as spokesman, and helped integrate the Speaker’s national political strategy with the National Republican Congressional Committee and GOP congressional candidates across the country.
John also has been involved with a number of political campaigns at the state and federal levels, serving as Campaign Manager for U.S. Rep. Mark Kirk’s first election victory and Communications Director for the successful campaign of U.S. Sen. Peter Fitzgerald. John also worked for the Illinois Republican Party, former Illinois State Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka, and remains an advisor to Andy McKenna, the current Chairman of the Illinois Republican Party.
In addition to his political involvement, John is active in several business, civic and charitable organizations, including the Illinois Government Affairs Group and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago, for which he serves as a member of the Corporate Board and President of the Guild Board.
John earned an A.B. in History and American Studies from Princeton University and a J.D. from Northwestern University School of Law. He is admitted to the Illinois Bar.