Ford beefs up government affairs team with veteran chief of staff Jessica Carter

Jessica Carter, a longtime chief of staff who has worked for five Republican members of Congress, has joined Ford Motor Co. as the new head of U.S. government affairs in Washington, D.C., the automaker announced Wednesday.

“Carter brings to Ford a wealth of experience in leading effective teams in the legislative branch” with more than 25 years of experience on Capitol Hill, Ford said in a news release.

Most recently, Carter served as chief of staff for U.S. Rep. Dan Newhouse, of Washington, “where she led the build-out of the Western Caucus — now the second-largest Republican caucus on Capitol Hill,” Ford said.

Jessica Carter, a longtime chief of staff to Republican members of Congress, has joined Ford Motor Co. as the head of U.S. government affairs, the automaker announced Aug. 2, 2023. She is seen here with her 1973 Ford Bronco.

Carter previously served as chief of staff for U.S. Reps. Francis Rooney, of Florida, Stephen Fincher, of Tennessee, Steve Pearce, of New Mexico, and Richard Pombo, of California.

An ability to work across bipartisan projects is part of Carter’s history, Ford said. “During her time with Congressman Fincher, she helped renew the charter of the Export-Import Bank through passage of a bipartisan discharge petition, a rarely used legislative strategy.”

Carter began her new job on July 24. She spent a week meeting people inside the company and getting settled, and just began external meetings representing the company in recent days, Ford told the Detroit Free Press.

‘Deep relationships’

This is part of an ongoing pattern to build a seasoned Ford team in Washington.

The automaker in recent months has been the target of concerns and political criticism led by the GOP involving a project involving a Chinese company that’s being built in Marshall, Michigan.

“Ford has been on the forefront of American manufacturing, helping our nation compete and win on the global stage for 120 years,” Carter said in the news release. “I’m thrilled to be joining this iconic American family company that’s transforming the auto industry and strengthening our country’s economy with a beloved product lineup found in driveways all across the nation.”