Donna Brazile

Democratic Political Strategist

Donna Brazile

Democratic Political Strategist

Add to List Availability & Fees

Biography

Donna Brazile is a veteran political strategist, New York Times bestselling author, Senior Advisor at Purple Strategies, former Chair of the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board, and sought-after Emmy- and Peabody-award-winning media contributor to such outlets as ABC News, USA Today, The Hill and The Grio. She became the first African American woman to serve as the manager of a major party presidential campaign, running the campaign of former Vice President Al Gore. She previously served as interim Chair of the Democratic National Committee and of the DNC’s Voting Rights Institute. She is a current member of the DNC Rules and Bylaws Committee.

She is author of the 2004 best-selling memoir Cooking with Grease: Stirring the Pots in American Politics and the 2017 New York Times Bestseller Hacks: The Inside Story of the Break-Ins and Breakdowns That Put Donald Trump In The White House. She is a co-author of For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Politics, which won the 2019 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work, Nonfiction. Ms. Brazile is a contributor to the recently published 400 Souls: A Community History of African America, 1619-2019.

For over 20 years she has served as an adjunct professor in the Women and Gender Studies Department at Georgetown University and served as the King Endowed Chair in Public Policy at Howard University and as a fellow at the Institute of Politics at Harvard Kennedy School. She has lectured at nearly 250 colleges and universities on diversity, equity and inclusion; women in leadership; and restoring civility in American politics.

She is the proud recipient of more than ten honorary doctorate degrees from major colleges and universities, including her alma mater Louisiana State University. In October 2017, Ms. Brazile was the recipient of the W.E.B Du Bois Medal, Harvard’s highest honor in African American studies. Ms. Brazile was the recipient of a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Daytime Program, Good Morning America (2016-2017) in connection with her work with ABC and she was a member of the Peabody Award-winning “Best Political Team on Television” on CNN during the 2008 election cycle.

She moonlights as an actress and is especially honored to have made three cameo appearances on CBS’s The Good Wife, and two cameo appearances on Netflix’s series House of Cards. She also appeared as herself on BET's Being Mary Jane. Most recently she played herself in the Zack Snyder film Army of the Dead. Ask her and she’ll tell you that acting, after all, is the key to success in politics.

Speaker Videos

Outskirts of Hope

Kids Like You Made It Possible

Speech Topics

America at a Crossroads: The Political Landscape Ahead

American politics is being reshaped by changes in the electorate, shifting voter priorities, and deepening divisions over the country’s future. Drawing on decades of experience in presidential campaigns, national party leadership, political strategy, and media analysis, Donna Brazile offers an insider’s perspective on the forces influencing today’s political landscape. Donna examines the economic and social concerns driving voter behavior, the changing coalitions within both major parties, and what current developments may signal for future elections and governing. Moving beyond the day’s headlines, she helps audiences understand the larger trends shaping political power and public opinion across the country. With candor, humor, and hard-earned perspective, this timely keynote gives audiences greater context for understanding where American politics may be headed next.

Audiences will learn:

What forces are shaping voter behavior and political priorities
How the electorate and party coalitions are changing
Which trends may influence future elections and the balance of political power

Presidential Politics: What Happened to “We the People”?

Presidential politics increasingly feels dominated by personalities, partisanship, and the pursuit of power, but democracy was never meant to be only about who wins. Drawing on more than four decades at the center of campaigns, presidential politics, and civic life, Donna Brazile examines how polarization, declining trust, and changes in the electorate have reshaped the way Americans engage with politics. Donna offers an insider’s perspective on the forces influencing elections while challenging audiences to look beyond party labels and consider what “We the People” requires from citizens themselves. With her signature candor and humor, she argues that the strength of democracy depends not only on political leaders, but on people who remain informed, engaged, and willing to participate even when the system feels frustrating or divided. This timely keynote is ultimately a call to civic responsibility and a reminder that democracy works best when people believe their voices still matter.

Audiences will learn:

How presidential politics and the American electorate have changed
Why polarization and declining trust have weakened civic engagement
What individuals can do to remain active participants in democracy

Truth to Power: A Youth Guide to Civic Engagement

Young people do not have to wait for permission, a title, or even Election Day to begin shaping their communities. Drawing on decades of experience in campaigns, political organizing, public service, and civic leadership, Donna Brazile shows students how their voices can translate into meaningful participation and influence. Donna explores how voting, advocacy, community involvement, and speaking up on issues they care about can become part of an ongoing civic life rather than something reserved for election season. She also helps young audiences understand how change actually happens, from organizing people around a shared concern to making sure decision-makers hear from the communities they represent. With humor, candor, and an insider’s perspective, Donna challenges students to move beyond cynicism, recognize the power they already have, and claim their place in the democratic process.

Audiences will learn:

Practical ways young people can participate in civic life
How organizing and advocacy can turn ideas into meaningful change
How to use their voices with greater confidence and purpose

Testimonials

"Donna was sharp, sophisticated, and the audience applauded with enthusiasm her witty saying about our political and social status quo. She seemed strong, influential, approachable, flexible, and professional. She is a good presenter and able to excite the audience with her speaking style. I receive numerous positive comments. Her presence here was covered widely by local media. I am very happy with the turnout and her performance."

- Kutztown University

"Our event last Thursday was a rousing success and Donna was just great. The audience was extremely responsive to her presentation and she was just a real pleasure to work with. Donna has a unique way of making a point so that one has to stop and think about what she just said. It was very enjoyable and informative. Thank you for your help in making this possible. I have worked with a number of speakers famous and not so famous and I just appreciate the down to earth approach Donna takes in working with us."

- National Forum for Black Public Administrators

"Donna Brazile was one of the most dynamic speakers that we've sponsored at Cal! Not only did she speak beyond the time promised, but her enthusiasm and motivation at the Q&A and during the reception was beyond anything we've experienced. Our students were most fortunate to share this time with her, and we would recommend her highly—at any cost!"

- University Ombudsperson

"Donna undoubtedly mesmerized the audience with her real life situational experiences, and her annotated delivery and dry humor. She can bring a tear to one’s eye, or a hearty laugh to one’s heart. She is a bright, captivating no nonsense speaker who has real life experience that she is willing to share with her audience."

- YWCA of Greater Pittsburgh

"Everything went smoothly—on a scale of 1 to 10, it was a perfect 20. Donna spoke eloquently, she was absolutely awesome. All I could say is that Montclair State University was smitten with Donna Brazil. It was excellent! Her message was right on target—it was politics of Affirmative Action. We are looking forward to working with American Program Bureau again. "

- Montclair University

"Her speech was well received by all and has been a topic of discussion throughout the campus ever since. I truly believe in the democratic process and if the impact she had on the students in my office is any example, California University students will be at the polls on November 2^nd!"

- California University of Pennsylvania

"Donna Brazile was probably the best speaker we have had in the 25 years I have been here. I was ready to vote for HER for president by the time she was done—and I’m a conservative! "

- De Paul University