Kellyanne Elizabeth Conway, born Kellyanne Fitzpatrick on January 20, 1967, is a prominent American political consultant and pollster who carved her name into history as the first woman to successfully manage a U.S. presidential campaign. Rising to national prominence as Senior Counselor to the President during the first administration of Donald Trump from 2017 to 2020, Conway became one of the most visible and polarizing figures in modern American politics. Her career spans decades of work in Republican strategy, media commentary, and public affairs, making her a household name known for her sharp wit, unapologetic advocacy, and frequent television appearances.

Conway grew up in Atco, New Jersey, where she demonstrated early academic promise, graduating as valedictorian of her high school class. She went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in political science from Trinity Washington University and a Juris Doctor from George Washington University Law School. Initially pursuing a legal career, Conway shifted her focus to political polling and consulting, founding the Polling Company/WomanTrend, a firm dedicated to understanding women voters. Her expertise in female consumer and voting behavior made her a sought-after strategist within Republican circles, and she became a regular presence in political media long before her White House tenure.

In the 2016 Republican primaries, Conway initially endorsed Ted Cruz and chaired a pro-Cruz political action committee until he exited the race. Following Cruz’s withdrawal, she joined Donald Trump’s campaign as a senior advisor and was later appointed campaign manager in August 2016. Her leadership was instrumental in navigating the general election, culminating in Trump’s upset victory over Hillary Clinton. Conway’s role as a calm, articulate defender of the candidate on cable news earned her widespread recognition, and her historic achievement as the first woman to run a winning presidential campaign remains a cornerstone of her legacy.

After the election, Conway was named counselor to the president, serving in the White House from 2017 to 2020. In this capacity, she became a key spokesperson and policy advocate, notably overseeing the administration’s efforts to combat the opioid epidemic as announced by Attorney General Jeff Sessions in November 2017. However, her tenure was marked by controversy. Conway famously coined the phrase “alternative facts” during a January 2017 interview to describe disputed inauguration crowd sizes, a comment that sparked national debate. In 2019, the U.S. Office of Special Counsel recommended her dismissal for “unprecedented” violations of the Hatch Act, citing her public endorsements of products linked to Ivanka Trump and other partisan statements, though she was never removed from her post. She also faced bipartisan criticism in 2017 for promoting Ivanka Trump’s commercial merchandise, an alleged ethics breach that drew scrutiny from Congress.

Conway departed the administration in August 2020, citing family reasons, and subsequently returned to the media spotlight. She became a contributor to Fox News in 2022, appearing regularly on programs such as Hannity, The Five, Outnumbered, and The Big Weekend Show, while also lending her analysis to the network’s 2022 midterm election coverage. In July 2024, Fox News announced that Conway would host a weekly program on its streaming platform, Fox Nation, titled “Here’s The Deal with Kellyanne Conway,” solidifying her ongoing role as a leading conservative commentator. Throughout her career, Conway has remained a formidable force in political strategy and media, balancing her historic achievements with a legacy defined by fierce partisanship and public scrutiny.