Post-2020: Congressional Communications and Project 2025
After Trump left office, Leavitt became the communications director for Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, a prominent Republican from New York and one of Trump’s staunchest allies in Congress. In this role, Leavitt helped Stefanik rebrand herself as a leading voice of the GOP’s Trump-aligned faction. Leavitt also took on a teaching role with Project 2025, a conservative training initiative focused on preparing loyalists for future roles in Republican administrations. She taught courses for the “Conservative Governance 101” program, focusing on media relations, political messaging, and executive branch strategy.
Her growing visibility made her a rising star in Trumpist circles. Her combative style, media savvy, and political allegiance positioned her as a young face of the movement—a bridge between Trump’s traditional base and a new generation of conservatives.
2022 Congressional Run
In 2022, Leavitt announced her candidacy for the U.S. House of Representatives in New Hampshire’s 1st district. The race was notable for pitting two former Trump administration officials—Leavitt and Matt Mowers—against each other in the Republican primary. Leavitt ran an unapologetically pro-Trump campaign, championing “America First” policies and railing against “establishment Republicans” and Washington insiders.
Despite being considered an underdog, Leavitt won the Republican nomination in a stunning upset, buoyed by endorsements from conservative stars like Lauren Boebert, Ted Cruz, and Elise Stefanik. However, she ultimately lost the general election to Democratic incumbent Chris Pappas by an eight-point margin. After the defeat, Leavitt declined to run again in 2024, choosing instead to double down on her role as a political operative.
In 2022, Leavitt’s campaign was accused of violating campaign finance laws. The group End Citizens United filed a complaint alleging that her campaign had accepted donations above the legal limit and failed to repay contributors. These allegations resurfaced in January 2025 when Leavitt filed 17 amended campaign finance disclosures revealing over $326,000 in unpaid debts, including roughly $200,000 in donations that exceeded legal limits. The issue drew criticism but did not deter her political trajectory, particularly within the Trump-aligned faction of the GOP.