ACLU Taps Hill Veteran Mike Zamore to Lead Expansion of Policy & Government Affairs Division

WASHINGTON — The American Civil Liberties Union today announced the appointment of Mike Zamore as National Director of Policy and Government Affairs. Bringing more than two decades of experience on Capitol Hill, Zamore will lead all federal advocacy in the newly-created Policy and Government Affairs Division within the ACLU’s National Political Advocacy Department.

“Mike’s passion for our work and deep relationships in Washington come to the ACLU at a critical time for civil rights and liberties, as we work urgently to secure the federal rights and protections we need on reproductive rights, voting rights, transgender rights, and more,” said Deirdre Schifeling, ACLU chief political and advocacy officer. “As we prepare for the 2024 elections with our rights on the line, we’re so grateful to have Mike with us in the fight.”

Zamore joins the ACLU after spending 14 years in the U.S. Senate as chief of staff to Sen. Jeff Merkeley (D-Ore.), where he was a leader on issues affecting civil rights and liberties, including voting rights, nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ people, and immigrants’ rights. He also spent seven years in the U.S. House of Representatives and was policy director at the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee.

“I’ve spent my life fighting for an America that delivers on its promise of equal access to our core freedoms — to choose our representatives, to make our own health decisions and live as our authentic selves, and to be treated with dignity and justice no matter what we look like or where we come from. There’s no more powerful and impassioned advocate for the rights and freedoms of all than the ACLU. At a time when those rights and freedoms are under relentless assault, I’m eager to help lead their vital policy work,” said Zamore.

Zamore is a Harvard Law graduate, an adjunct faculty member at American University Washington College of Law, and former clerk for a federal judge. He is the co-author of the forthcoming book Filibustered: How to Fix the Broken Senate and Save America, hitting shelves on Jan. 9. He is based in Washington, D.C. and will start on Jan. 2.