Jon Downs is a founding and managing partner at FP1 Strategies. An award-winning writer, producer and director, Downs develops strategy and advertising for political candidates and ballot initiatives. He oversees FP1’s creative process and employs all mediums – television, radio, print and digital – to persuade voters, inform opinion leaders and influence decision-makers.
Downs is best known for his dramatic storytelling ability and the high-impact testimonial ads he has produced for marquee statewide races, such as Senator Steve Daines’ decisive victory against a popular two-term governor, Senator Katie Britt’s comeback victory in the Alabama primary and Senator Dan Sullivan’s defeat of a Democratic incumbent. Downs and the FP1 team have helped elect 31 U.S. Senators, 56 Members of Congress, 8 governors and 4 attorneys general. Downs has also created advertising campaigns for Fortune 500 companies and key ballot initiatives across the country.
Downs and the FP1 advertising team have won 113 Pollie Awards from the American Association of Political Consultants and 75 Reed Awards from Campaigns & Elections.
Downs graduated from the University of Wisconsin and got his start in politics working for Bush-Cheney 2000 in Austin, TX.
Career Highlights:
- Awards include Republican Congressional Ad of the Year, Republican Statewide Ad of the Year, Public Affairs Ad of the Year, Ballot Initiative Ad of the Year, Presidential Primary Ad of the Year (in both 2012 and 2016) and Overall Campaign Best in Show (in both 2015 and 2017).
- Politico named Downs one of the top ten political operatives to watch.
- The Washington Post called Downs’ work “some of the best commercials of the cycle,” and National Review referred to him as “a political operative turned media maestro.”