Edward Gillespie (born 1962) was chairman of the Republican National Committee from July 2003 to January 2005, when he was replaced by George W. Bush campaign manager Ken Mehlman. Gillespie is originally from Browns Mills, New Jersey and is a graduate of Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. While at CUA he began his career on Capitol Hill as a Senate parking lot attendant.
In 1996, Gillespie was Director of Communications and Congressional Affairs at the RNC under then-Chairman Haley Barbour. Prior to that, he served for over a decade as a top aide to former House Majority Leader Dick Armey (R-TX). He was a principal drafter of 1994’s Contract with America, which helped Republicans win control of the United States House of Representatives for the first time in 40 years.
Gillespie is founder of Quinn Gillespie & Associates, a bipartisan lobbying firm that provides strategic advice, public relations services, and government representation to corporations, trade associations and issue-based coalitions. After his term as chairman expired, Gillespie returned to the firm.
He is married to the former Cathy Hay and has three children.