CHICAGO – Today, U.S. Senator-elect Juliana Stratton (D-IL) announced Leah Hill will serve as her Chief of Staff and Bryen Johnson will serve as State Director. They will join Juliana for Illinois General Consultant and Transition Chair Kaitlin Fahey of Magnify Strategies in building Senator-elect Stratton’s new office. Those interested in applying for a role in Senator-elect Stratton’s office should contact transition@julianastratton.com.
“I’m thrilled to welcome Leah and Bryen to my Senate office, and I’m confident that their years of experience and commitment to public service will set a standard of excellence as we embark on this transition,” said Senator-elect Stratton. “Leah brings a wealth of knowledge of the halls of Congress and the legislative process, with over a decade of experience navigating complex policy issues in several Congressional offices – but her career first began right here in Chicago as an elementary school teacher. Bryen and I first met as Edgar Fellows, and he made history as the Illinois Federation of Teachers’ first Black political director – with deep roots in Springfield and the labor movement, he’s a leader I’m proud to have him guiding our work across Illinois. I’m grateful to these two seasoned professionals for stepping up to serve the people of Illinois in this next chapter.”
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Leah Hill will serve as Chief of Staff. Leah has more than a decade of experience advising senior members of Congress, shaping federal policy, and navigating the legislative process. With a career spanning senior leadership roles in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, she brings extensive expertise in legislative strategy, policy development, and congressional affairs across a broad range of domestic and international issues. Most recently, Leah served as Legislative Director to U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), where she oversaw the Senator’s legislative agenda and policy priorities. Before joining Senator Booker’s office in 2021, Leah served as Senior Policy Advisor to Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH), advising on a diverse portfolio that included education, transportation, civil rights, and social services. She began her congressional career in 2013 as an education policy fellow for then-Congresswoman Marcia Fudge (D-OH). Leah’s career in public service began outside the halls of Congress, first as an elementary school teacher in Chicago and later as a political organizer with Organizing for America. These experiences provided a foundation for her work in federal policymaking and legislative leadership. Originally from Charlotte, North Carolina, Leah earned her bachelor’s degree in Public Policy Studies from Duke University and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Dominican University.
Bryen Johnson will serve as State Director, leading Senator-elect Stratton’s Illinois operation. Bryen brings two decades of experience in Illinois government, legislative advocacy, and the labor movement, with relationships across the state's communities and statehouse. Most recently, Bryen served as Political Director of the Illinois Federation of Teachers (IFT), a union of 103,000 education and public service professionals, where he directed and implemented the union's statewide political and legislative program. Bryen was the first Black Political Director in the union's history. Since joining the IFT in 2013, he has held several roles, including Legislative Director, where he lobbied the Illinois General Assembly and advanced the union's policy agenda, and State Affiliate Political Organizer, serving as the IFT's liaison to the American Federation of Teachers and Illinois' congressional delegation. Before joining the IFT, Bryen spent nearly a decade on Illinois Senate Democratic staff, rising from the communications team to Deputy Director of the Senate President's Communications Department, one of the youngest legislative managers in the General Assembly at that time. Bryen's career in public service began in 2004 through the Illinois Legislative Staff Internship Program (ILSIP). Originally from Maryland and raised in Illinois, Bryen earned his bachelor's degree in Communications from Southern Illinois University, where he first found his passion for public policy at the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute. Bryen and Senator-elect Stratton were both members of the 2016 class of Edgar Fellows.
Kaitlin Fahey is serving as Transition Chair. Kaitlin is the Founder and CEO of Magnify Strategies, where she advises business executives, organizations, and public leaders on high-stakes challenges at the intersection of business, government, public affairs, and communications. Most recently, she served as General Consultant and lead strategist for Juliana Stratton’s successful 2026 campaign for U.S. Senate in Illinois, helping engineer a come-from-behind victory in one of the country’s most closely watched Senate primaries. She previously led the multiyear effort to bring the 2024 Democratic National Convention to Chicago and subsequently served as Interim Executive Director and advisor to the Chicago Host Committee and as a Senior Advisor to the convention. Before founding Magnify Strategies, Kaitlin spent more than a decade as a senior advisor to U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth, including serving as her Chief of Staff and Campaign Manager. Kaitlin holds a B.A. from Georgetown University and an M.A. in Public Policy and Administration from Northwestern University. She lives in the Chicago area with her husband and three children.
Learn more about Juliana’s campaign at julianastratton.com
IFT Political Director Bryen Johnson Named State Director for U.S. Senator-elect Juliana Stratton
The Illinois Federation of Teachers(IFT), a union of more than 105,000 educators, higher education faculty and staff, and public employees in every corner of the state, congratulates Political Director Bryen Johnson on his appointment as state director for U.S. Senator-elect Juliana Stratton. Johnson will lead the senator-elect's Illinois operation.
"For 13 years, Bryen has been on the team for the fights IFT members have won," said IFT President Stacy Davis Gates. "He helped us win Evidence-Based Funding, sunset the Invest in Kids Voucher Program and hold charter schools accountable. He made history as our first Black political director, and he built a political program that helped elect champions for public education across this state, including last week. Senator-elect Stratton is getting a leader who knows every corner of Illinois and never forgets who he works for."
The IFT-endorsed Stratton for the U.S. Senate. The daughter of a public school teacher, she pledged when she earned the union's endorsement to "help lead the fight against the dismantling of our public education system and for full, equitable funding of schools in every neighborhood."
"We're excited that Bryen's work will continue as he builds Senator-elect Stratton's office, and we look forward to working together for the best of our state," Davis Gates said. "That means full funding for our public schools, fair funding for higher education, fixing Tier 2 pensions so educators and state workers alike can retire with dignity, and asking the ultra-wealthy to pay their share. Bryen has fought for every one of those priorities, and he'll keep fighting for the people of Illinois."
Johnson joined the IFT in 2013. He served as Legislative Director, lobbying the Illinois General Assembly and advancing the union's policy agenda, and as state affiliate political organizer, the IFT's liaison to the American Federation of Teachers and Illinois' congressional delegation. As political director, he directed and implemented the union's statewide political and legislative program.
The IFT will announce its next political director in the coming weeks.
