Sanders’ Iowa political director leaves his 2020 campaign

by: By ALEXANDRA JAFFE Associated Press

Posted: Sep 18, 2019 / 08:48 PM EDT / Updated: Sep 18, 2019 / 08:48 PM EDT

In this Sept. 12, 2019, photo, Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., answers a question during a Democratic presidential primary debate hosted by ABC at Texas Southern University in Houston. Sanders successfully turned his outsider credentials and call for political revolution into a commanding victory in the 2016 New Hampshire primary. But as he seeks a repeat performance, the Vermont senator could face unlikely competition. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Bernie Sanders’ Iowa political director has departed his 2020presidential campaign, leaving him without a key staffer in the first-in-the-nation caucus state.

Jess Mazour was announced as Sanders’ Iowa political director in March and was let go from the team in recent weeks. She previously worked as an organizer for the progressive group Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement.

A Sanders aide on Wednesday confirmed Mazour’s departure on condition of anonymity. The aide wasn’t authorized to discuss personnel matters.

The Washington Post first reported the news of her departure.

While the team still has several top-level staffers in place in Iowa, the news of Mazour’s departure comes as Sanders has also drawn headlines for staff troubles in New Hampshire. His state director has been replaced over there.