News: Longtime senior House Democratic staffer Brian Romick is leaving the Hill after nearly three decades to run a top pro-Israel group.
Romick will take the helm of Democratic Majority for Israel, replacing Mark Mellman. Mellman, the Democratic pollster who founded the organization in 2019, stepped down in April. Romick will officially take over at DMFI after Memorial Day.
Former Rep. Kathy Manning (D-N.C.) is also joining DMFI as chair of the board of directors.
At a time when support for Israel has cratered among Democrats due to the war in Gaza, Romick and Manning told us their top priority is educating lawmakers and voters on why the longtime U.S. ally deserves their backing.
“Democrats have somewhat lost the plot on Israel. And we need to help communicate to Democrats why Israel exists and why security for Israel is important,” Romick told us.
If you’ve moved in House leadership circles or covered Democrats over the last 20 years, you know Romick, leadership chief of staff to former House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.).
Romick started as a campaign volunteer for Hoyer in 1996 and has been a constant presence at the Maryland Democrat’s side.
Romick brings to DMFI a long institutional memory of Capitol Hill and encyclopedic knowledge of the Democratic Caucus’ various factions. He was closely involved with Jewish issues during his time on the Hill.
“He’s smart, he’s strategic, he understands the Hill and he worked for Steny Hoyer, who has been one of the most extraordinary champions of the US-Israel relationship,” Manning told us.
Manning served in the House from 2021 to 2025. The North Carolina Democrat, who was a leading voice on Jewish issues during her time on the Hill, opted not to run for reelection after redistricting shifted her seat heavily red.
Manning said she wants to prioritize flipping the House for Democrats and supporting pro-Israel candidates in open primaries.
