Biography

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Rufus Gifford is a candidate for Congress in Massachusetts’ third congressional district. He’s running a campaign focused on restoring trust in politics and getting government working again to improve constituents’ everyday lives.

From 2013 to 2017, Rufus served as the U.S. Ambassador to Denmark, the culmination of ten years working as a senior aide to President Barack Obama. As Ambassador, he advanced several U.S. foreign policy priorities, such as addressing the effects of climate change, building international coalitions, promoting U.S. businesses, and investing in clean energy. Rufus also helped modernize the transatlantic relationship through people-to-people diplomacy, youth engagement, and a never-before-seen public diplomacy strategy, which included the award-winning documentary series “I Am the Ambassador.”

Previously, Rufus was on the senior leadership team of President Obama’s 2012 re-election campaign. He was also a senior staff member of the Democratic National Committee, where he was part of the effort to pass key Obama agenda items such as the Affordable Care Act. Before that, he was an advisor on Obama’s historic 2008 campaign, where he worked to involve all walks of life in the political process.

Rufus started in Democratic politics as a volunteer and then a staff member on John Kerry’s 2004 presidential campaign. He subsequently started his own consulting business, advocating for progressive causes and advising Democratic officials across the country. He began his career as a producer in the entertainment industry.

Rufus had no plans to run for office himself, but when Donald Trump was elected president in November 2016, he decided he needed to more forcefully stand up for all he believed in and all he had dedicated his career to: quality and affordable health care, the environment, equality for LGBT and all Americans, government accountability, and basic human decency. He also felt compelled to more vocally defend American values and human rights at both home and abroad.

A native of Massachusetts, Rufus holds a bachelor’s degree from Brown University. He is married to veterinarian Dr. Stephen DeVincent and they live in Concord, Massachusetts.