{{Short description|American political strategist}} {{Infobox person | name = Jai Chabria | image = Jai Chabria.jpg | education = | alma_mater = Ohio Wesleyan University | occupation = political strategist | years_active = 1996 - present | known_for = Served as a strategist and advisor for former United States senator JD Vance and former Governor of Ohio John Kasich. | website = {{URL|https://www.madglobalstrategy.com/}} }} '''Jai Chabria''' is an American political strategist who has served as a strategist and advisor for politicians such as former United States senator JD Vance<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |last=Fahrenthold |first=David A. |date=2022-10-08 |title=J.D. Vance's First Attempt to Renew Ohio Crumbled Quickly |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/08/us/politics/jd-vance-ohio-senate-nonprofit.html |access-date=2023-03-01 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last1=Andrew J. Tobias |first1=cleveland com |last2=Jeremy Pelzer |first2=cleveland com |date=2023-01-20 |title=Dissenting Ohio House Republicans look to strip speaker of power as they wage fight over rules |url=https://www.cleveland.com/news/2023/01/dissenting-ohio-house-republicans-look-to-strip-speaker-of-power-as-they-wage-fight-over-rules.html |access-date=2023-03-01 |website=cleveland |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Merica |first=Dan |date=2018-01-11 |title=Vance, Renacci eye Ohio Senate race as GOP scrambles for a candidate |url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/01/10/politics/jd-vance-senate-ohio-mcconnell-trump-gop/index.html |access-date=2023-03-01 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref> and former Governor of Ohio John Kasich.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Henry J. Gomez |first=cleveland com |date=2016-02-22 |title=Jai Chabria, longtime adviser to Gov. John Kasich, to leave administration for Ohio GOP job |url=https://www.cleveland.com/open/2016/02/jai_chabria_longtime_adviser_t.html |access-date=2023-03-01 |website=cleveland |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-07-01 |title='Hillbilly Elegy' author J.D. Vance joins US Senate campaign in Ohio |url=https://www.wkyc.com/article/news/politics/elections/jd-vance-campaign-us-senate-ohio-hillbilly-elegy/95-82b6918d-7705-4c80-9329-4f28a2022ba2 |access-date=2023-03-01 |website=wkyc.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |author=Staff Writer |date=2022-06-09 |title=Republican Strategist Jai Chabria to Head Columbus Office of Public Affairs Firm MAD Global Strategy |url=https://americankahani.com/politics/republican-strategist-jai-chabria-to-head-columbus-office-of-public-affairs-firm-mad-global-strategy/ |access-date=2023-03-01 |website=American Kahani |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Chinni |first=Dante |title=Two Counties Defining the Battle Lines of the GOP's Civil War |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/two-counties-defining-battle-lines-gop-s-civil-war-n812516 |access-date=2023-03-01 |website=www.nbcnews.com |date=22 October 2017 |language=en}}</ref> He is currently a partner at MAD Global Strategy.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Shaner |first=Kyle |date=2023-02-10 |title=UC research helps identify vulnerable populations |url=https://www.uc.edu/news/articles/2023/02/uc-research-helps-identify-vulnerable-populations.html |access-date=2023-03-01 |website=UC News |language=en-us}}</ref>
== Early life and education == Chabria was born to Sindhi parents from India.<ref name=":2" /> Chabria earned a bachelor's degree in Politics and Government from Ohio Wesleyan University.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jai Chabria '99 |url=https://www.owu.edu/about/offices-services-directory/career-connection/partner-with-us/alumni-resources/alumni-partners/careers-with-social-impact/jai-chabria-99/ |access-date=2023-04-13 |website=Ohio Wesleyan University |language=en |archive-date=2023-04-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230418011442/https://www.owu.edu/about/offices-services-directory/career-connection/partner-with-us/alumni-resources/alumni-partners/careers-with-social-impact/jai-chabria-99/ |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name=":6" />
== Career == Chabria began his political career as a political assistant for John Kasich’s congressional reelection campaign in 1996.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Organization of Kasich for America - Staff, Advisors and Supporters |url=https://www.p2016.org/kasich/kasichorg.html |access-date=2023-03-01 |website=www.p2016.org}}</ref> Chabria was retained as a political assistant for Kasich's 2000 presidential campaign.<sup><ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /></sup> He also worked on special projects for Kasich's New Century Project political action committee.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Henry J. Gomez |first=cleveland com |date=2014-05-14 |title=Recovering politician bides his time at Lehman Brothers and Fox News: A John Kasich 5.0 interlude |url=https://www.cleveland.com/open/2014/05/recovering_politician_bides_hi.html |access-date=2023-03-01 |website=cleveland |language=en}}</ref> He later worked with Kasich when he left Congress, and they both worked for the financial firm Lehman Brothers.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2011-01-28 |title=Jai Chabria is Senior Advisor to Ohio Governor |url=https://issuu.com/franticface/docs/india_abroad_36_.docx |access-date=2023-03-01 |website=India Abroad |page=A8 |language=en}}</ref>
Chabria was eventually appointed as the Senior Advisor to the Governor after Kasich was elected Governor of Ohio in 2010.<ref name=":4" /> In mid 2010's, Chabria was also a member of the Kasich administration's Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-06-20 |title=Recommendations to Governor John R. Kasich |url=http://www.ncdsv.org/images/OhioHumanTraffickingTaskForceReport_6-27-2012.pdf |access-date=2023-03-02 |website=Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force |archive-date=2015-09-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150907220229/http://www.ncdsv.org/images/OhioHumanTraffickingTaskForceReport_6-27-2012.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=July 2015 |title=HUMAN TRAFFICKING TASK FORCE REPORT |url=https://mha.ohio.gov/static/learnandfindhelp/TreatmentServices/TCC/OhioHumanTraffickingTaskForceReport-July2015.pdf |access-date=2023-03-02 |website=HUMAN TRAFFICKING TASK FORCE}}</ref> In 2011, he oversaw the transition of Ohio's Department of Development as it became the private economic development corporation JobsOhio.<ref name=":2" />
In 2011, Chabria signed an MOU on behalf of the State of Ohio, with Dan Gilbert, the CEO of Rock Ohio Caesars.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Final ROC Memorandum of Understanding |url=https://media.cleveland.com/plain_dealer_metro/other/Final%20ROC%20MOU%5b2%5d.pdf |access-date=2025-07-24 |website=cleveland.com |publisher=The Plain Dealer }}</ref> The agreement allowed for an extra $900 million to flow to the state, establish the tax methodology for Ohio Casinos, and allowed for video lottery terminals to be installed racetracks around the state.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-05-27 |title=The Real Origins of the Religious Right |url=https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/politics/2011/06/17/kasich-wields-casino-tax-club/23823860007/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250616130229/https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/politics/2011/06/17/kasich-wields-casino-tax-club/23823860007/ |archive-date=2025-06-16 |access-date=2025-07-24 |website=Politico }}</ref>
Chabria eventually left his role as Kasich's Senior Advisor to oversee planning for the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |last=Bischoff |first=Laura |title=Kasich aide goes to Ohio GOP |url=https://www.daytondailynews.com/blog/ohio-politics/kasich-aide-goes-ohio-gop/ibHc6Zvk0cvPCCG2sELobK/ |access-date=2023-03-03 |website=dayton-daily-news |language=English}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Wildstein |first=David |date=2022-06-01 |title=DuHaime firm opens Ohio office |url=https://newjerseyglobe.com/lobbying/duhaime-firm-opens-ohio-office/ |access-date=2023-03-03 |website=New Jersey Globe |language=en-US}}</ref> In 2022, Chabria served as a chief strategist for JD Vance’s senatorial campaign.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":4" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-11-07 |title=Trump spooks GOP with abandoned talk of presidential launch on eve of vote |language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/11/07/trump-spooks-republicans-with-talk-presidential-launch-eve-vote/ |access-date=2023-03-03 |issn=0190-8286}}</ref> Chabria is credited with making one of two calls to John Kasich to help convince him to drop out of the 2016 presidential race.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Staff |date=2016-05-07 |title=Capitol Insider: Friends' blunt advice helped John Kasich pull plug on campaign |url=https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/politics/2016/05/07/capitol-insider-friends-blunt-advice/23570412007/ |access-date=2025-07-24 |website=The Columbus Dispatch |publisher=GateHouse Media}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Screenshot of "Capitol Insider" article on The Columbus Dispatch website |url=https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/politics/2016/05/07/capitol-insider-friends-blunt-advice/23570412007/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250615153750/https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/politics/2016/05/07/capitol-insider-friends-blunt-advice/23570412007/ |archive-date=2025-06-15 |access-date=2025-07-24 |website=archive.ph |format=Image |url-status=bot: unknown }}</ref>
In addition to his work in politics, Chabria also worked jobs in investment banking for companies such as Lehman Brothers and Barclays Capital.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2010-08-12 |title=Special Report: Shorting Wall Street on the campaign trail |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-elections-wall-street-idUKTRE67B3IB20100812 |access-date=2023-03-03}}</ref><ref name=":4" /> Prior to his current job as a managing partner of the public affairs firm MAD Global Strategy, he also served as managing director of Mercury, another public strategy firm.<ref name=":4" />
He also co-founded the nonprofit organization Our Ohio Renewal with J.D. Vance.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-04-12 |title=J.D. Vance bringing interest of coastal VC funds to Central Ohio – but not only Central Ohio |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2017/04/12/j-d-vance-bringing-interest-of-coastal-vc-funds-to.html |access-date=2023-03-03 |website=bizjournals.com}}</ref> During Vance's 2022 campaign for U.S. Senate, Tim Ryan, the Democratic nominee, said the charity was a front for Vance's political ambitions. Ryan pointed to reports that the organization paid a Vance political adviser and conducted public opinion polling, while its efforts to address addiction failed. Vance denied the characterization.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-07-15 |title=Trump picks Sen. JD Vance of Ohio, a once-fierce critic turned loyal ally, as his GOP running mate |url=https://apnews.com/article/trump-vice-president-vance-rubio-burgum-rnc-6cc438a8370a21b2631f5a53b06b71d0 |access-date=2024-07-26 |website=AP News |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Ohio U.S. Senate Debate {{!}} C-SPAN.org |url=https://www.c-span.org/video/?523437-1/ohio-us-senate-debate |access-date=2024-07-26 |website=www.c-span.org}}</ref> A 2021 report by ''Business Insider'' revealed that Our Ohio Renewal's tax filings showed that in its first year, it spent more on "management services" provided by Jai Chabria, as executive director, than it did on programs to fight opioid abuse.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Morris |first=Adam Wren, Meghan |title=We found tax records showing 'Hillbilly Elegy' author JD Vance's anti-opioid nonprofit faltered |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/jd-vance-anti-opioid-nonprofit-our-ohio-renewal-senate-campaign-2021-8 |access-date=2024-07-26 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US}}</ref>
In 2023, Chabria was Senior Strategist to WV Governor Patrick Morrisey’s campaign for Governor.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McElhinny |first=Brad |date=2023-09-06 |title=Poll: corrected results show higher percentage support for Morrisey for governor |url=https://wvmetronews.com/2023/09/06/poll-corrected-results-show-higher-percentage-support-for-morrisey-for-governor/ |access-date=2025-02-10 |website=WV MetroNews |language=en-US}}</ref>
In 2024, he directed the debate preparations for JD Vance for the Vice Presidential debate.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-01-30 |title=Vance staffs VP's office with his allies — and no objections from Trump |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/vance-staffs-vp-office-allies-no-trump-objections-rcna189472 |access-date=2025-02-10 |website=NBC News |language=en}}</ref>
In 2025, he also became the senior strategist and general consultant for Vivek Ramaswamy’s gubernatorial campaign.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Pelzer |first1=Jeremy |title=How Vivek Ramaswamy has steamrolled the GOP field in Ohio's governor race |url=https://www.cleveland.com/news/2025/05/how-vivek-ramaswamy-has-steamrolled-the-gop-field-in-ohios-governor-race.html |website=Cleveland.com |date=May 25, 2025 |access-date=July 18, 2025}}</ref>
In January 2025, he became a partner at MAD Global.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=C&E |date=2025-01-10 |title=Firms Are Making Staffing Moves As Candidates Start Eyeing '26 |url=https://campaignsandelections.com/industry-news/firms-are-making-staffing-moves-as-candidates-start-eyeing-26/ |access-date=2025-02-10 |website=Campaigns & Elections |language=en-US}}</ref>
Chabria has served as an analyst for television news outlets such as Fox News,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-02-04 |title=Breaking down Ohio's early voting numbers {{!}} Fox News Video |url=https://www.foxnews.com/video/5201529870001 |access-date=2023-03-03 |website=Fox News |language=en-US}}</ref> Fox Business,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Media establishment in cahoots with political establishment? |url=http://video.foxbusiness.com/v/5168021031001/ |access-date=2023-03-03 |website=Fox Business |date=4 February 2017 |language=en}}</ref> and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.<ref>{{Cite web |title=U.S. Midterms: Where each party stands heading into election day |url=https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/2104356419915 |access-date=2023-03-02 |website=cbc.ca}}</ref>
He has also been interviewed by news outlets such as NBC News<ref>{{Cite web |last=Chinni |first=Dante |title=Two Counties Defining the Battle Lines of the GOP's Civil War |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/two-counties-defining-battle-lines-gop-s-civil-war-n812516 |access-date=2023-04-13 |website=www.nbcnews.com |date=22 October 2017 |language=en}}</ref> and The Columbus Dispatch.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Columbus Dispatch |url=https://www.dispatch.com/restricted/?return=https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/politics/state/2023/01/25/ohio-house-gop-hires-a-former-larry-householder-associate/69840202007/ |access-date=2023-04-13 |website=www.dispatch.com}}</ref>
== Personal life == He lives in Powell, Ohio and is married to Tammy Chabria. They have a daughter and a son together.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":6" />
== References == {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Chabria, Jai}} Category:Living people Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:American campaign managers Category:American political consultants Category:American politicians of Indian descent Category:Asian conservatism in the United States Category:JD Vance Category:John Kasich Category:Ohio Wesleyan University alumni Category:Ohio Republicans Category:People from Powell, Ohio Category:American political commentators Category:21st-century Ohio politicians Category:American people of Sindhi descent