Chauncey McLean

Chauncey McLean is a Democratic Party operative who works as president of Future Forward PAC and Future Forward USA Action. He is known for his use of consumer data to create targeted ads that were used to help incumbent President Barack Obama win the 2012 presidential election. 1

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At-A-Glance

Occupation: Activist, Board Member or Executive
Nationality:

American

Contents

    Future Forward PAC made headlines towards the end of the 2020 presidential election for being funded by over $100 million in so-called “dark money” that was used towards ad campaigns in support of Joe Biden’s presidential campaign. 2

    Career

    From 2006 to 2009, Chauncey McLean attended University of Washington School of Law. 3 The New York Times reported that during this time he took a leave of absence to work on Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign. 1

    From January 2010 to November 2010, McLean served as a field director for the campaign of then-U.S. Rep. Tom Perriello (D-VA). From 2011 to 2012, he worked as director of media tracking for the Democratic National Committee. 4

    Following the 2012 election, McLean cofounded Analytics Media Group, which utilizes the advertising strategy McLean used during the 2012 election where undecided voters were targeted with television ads using McLean’s “formulas.” 1 Analytics Media Group other cofounders include Obama advisers Jeff Link, Larry Grisolano, Erik Smith, Terry Walsh, and Pete Giangreco. It used data purchased from set-top box and DVR collection as well as from third parties to generate ad strategies for political campaigns as well as for businesses. 5

    In 2016, Dolan Family Adventures acquired Analytics Media Group, absorbing it into its company named 605. After the acquisition, McLean became EVP of Client Solutions. 6

    McLean worked for 605 until 2018, after switching to a business advisor role in 2017. Also in 2017, he founded Berkeley Yeast, which sells beer brewed without hops for environmentalist reasons. 7 4

    Since it was founded in 2018, McLean has worked as president of Future Forward USA Action, a left-of-center nonprofit advocacy group, and its affiliated political action committee, Future Forward PAC. 2

    Future Forward PAC and Future Forward USA Action

    Chauncey McLean works as president of Future Forward PAC created by Future Forward USA Action. During the 2020 presidential election, Future Forward PAC made headlines for not campaigning until the end of the election cycle, receiving over $100 million in 2020. It ran ad campaigns endorsing Joe Biden and attacking then-President Donald Trump, reportedly using similar ad strategies McLean used to help Barack Obama win the 2012 election. 2

    In 2021, McLean received $235,000 in compensation as president of Future Forward USA Action. 8

    Political Contributions

    According to data made public by the Federal Election Commission (FEC), Chauncey McLean made six political contributions between 2008 and 2023, all of which were to Democratic party candidates. Recipients include former President Barack Obama, former Rep. Tom Perriello (D-VA), Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA), former Senate candidate Mike Espy (D-MS), Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI), and former New York Assemblymember Michael Blake (D-Bronx). 9

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    References

    1. Rutenberg, Jim. “Data You Can Believe In.” The New York Times, June 20, 2013. https://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/23/magazine/the-obama-campaigns-digital-masterminds-cash-in.html.
    2. “Pro-Biden Super PAC Funds $100 Million Ad Campaign with ‘Dark Money.’” OpenSecrets News, October 23, 2020. https://www.opensecrets.org/news/2020/10/pro-biden-super-pac-darkmon/.
    3. “Chauncey McLean – Founder at Berkeley Yeast.” THE ORG. Accessed July 4, 2023. https://theorg.com/org/berkeley-yeast/org-chart/chauncey-mclean.
    4. “Chauncey McLean.” LinkedIn. Accessed July 4, 2023. https://www.linkedin.com/in/chauncey-mclean-753a8b74/.
    5. “Analytics Media Group Engages FourthWall Media for Dynamic Television Viewership Data.” PR Newswire: press release distribution, targeting, monitoring and marketing, September 18, 2013. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/analytics-media-group-engages-fourthwall-media-for-dynamic-television-viewership-data-224214181.html.
    6. Lieberman, David. “Dolan Family Buys Analytics Media Group Tying Ad Sales to Set Top Box Data.” Deadline, November 10, 2016. https://deadline.com/2016/11/dolan-family-buys-analytics-media-group-advertisers-set-top-box-data-1201852187/.
    7. Quenqua, Douglas. “Something’s Brewing in the Lab: Beer without Hops.” The New York Times, March 20, 2018. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/20/science/craft-beer-hops.html.
    8. Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990). Future Forward USA Action. 2021. Part VII, Line 2.
    9. “Browse Individual Contributions.” FEC.gov. Accessed July 4, 2023. https://www.fec.gov/data/receipts/individual-contributions/?contributor_name=chauncey+mclean.