Mike McLaughlin and Four Lions Media Join Ward for Senate as Strategic Consultants

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Ward for State Senate – District 24 | York County & Greater Williamsburg, Virginia

The Ward for State Senate campaign is proud to announce that Mike McLaughlin, Partner at Four Lions Media, has joined the team as a Strategic Consultant. With a toss-up race on our hands and nearly one in five District 24 voters still undecided, bringing in one of the most experienced paid media minds in Democratic politics is a decisive move — and a clear signal of how seriously this campaign is playing to win.

Meet Mike McLaughlin

Mike McLaughlin is a 20-year veteran of Democratic politics with over eight years of specialized expertise in paid media. He has worked races at every level of the ballot — from local school board contests to high-profile Congressional campaigns — building a reputation for crafting messages that don't just reach voters, but move them.

Most recently, Mike served as National Field Director for Klobuchar for President and as a Senior Vice President at Do Big Things, bringing a rare combination of ground-level organizing instincts and top-tier media strategy to every race he touches. That blend of field experience and paid media mastery is exactly what a competitive down-ballot race like District 24 demands.

About Four Lions Media

Mike joins us through Four Lions Media, a Washington, D.C.-based political communications firm built from the ground up by organizers, strategists, and creatives who believe in driving change — not just witnessing it.

Four Lions is not a cookie-cutter political shop. Their approach combines deep experience in communications with innovative segmented targeting strategies — applying the precision of direct mail and digital advertising to video and streaming in ways that actually reach voters where they are. Their work spans video production, direct mail, digital engagement, strategic planning, and paid advertising, all guided by a core belief: it's never just about what you want to say, but what your audience is willing to listen to.

Their client roster speaks for itself — from SEIU and SEIU 2015 to the Maryland House Democratic Caucus, the ACLU California Action, and numerous competitive state and federal campaigns across the country. Four Lions has a proven track record of helping campaigns cut through the noise and win.

What This Means for the Ward Campaign

In a race this close, the paid media program can be the difference between victory and defeat. With Mike and Four Lions Media now driving our communications strategy, the Ward campaign gains:

• Battle-tested paid media expertise across digital, streaming, direct mail, and video

• Precision targeting that ensures our message reaches the right voters at the right moment

• Storytelling firepower from a team that knows how to make audiences feel — and act

"This race is about real people and real stakes," said Ward. "Mike and the Four Lions team know how to tell that story in a way that connects. I'm proud to have them in our corner."

The Road Ahead

With Dave Ward holding a one-point lead over Republican Harper Gordon — 41% to 40% — in a race where control of the Virginia State Senate may hang in the balance, every piece of communication this campaign puts out matters. Mike McLaughlin and Four Lions Media will ensure that our message about homeownership, community investment, and fighting for working families lands with the voters who need to hear it most.

Backed by workers. Supported by our community. Ready to fight for you.

— Dave Ward, Candidate for State Senate, District 24