Joe Agovino is a seasoned political strategist, communications expert, and public affairs leader with over 15 years of experience driving progressive change at the intersection of campaigns, government, and civic engagement. As the Founder and Executive Director of Civic Response, Joe leads a bold initiative to build a permanent, year-round infrastructure for voter outreach, community organizing, and public accountability.

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Joe’s career spans senior leadership roles across federal, state, and local campaigns, where he has managed winning operations in some of New York’s most competitive races. Most notably, he served as Campaign Manager for the successful 2024 NY-22 congressional campaign, flipping a red seat to blue through disciplined strategy, deep field engagement, and innovative digital outreach.

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A dual graduate of the Maxwell School at Syracuse University with master’s degrees in Public Administration and Political Science, Joe brings academic rigor and practical insight to his work. He has served as a Communications Director and senior policy advisor in the New York State Senate, a Congressional Policy Fellow, and a Director of Community Development, with a strong focus on constituent-centered policymaking and institutional accountability.

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Through Civic Response and its flagship program—the Civic Response Outreach Program (CROP)—Joe is pioneering scalable models for deep canvassing, youth-led political internships, and data-driven GOTV operations designed to reach infrequent voters and reinvigorate democratic participation. His work is grounded in a firm belief that lasting political power must be built at the grassroots level, one conversation at a time.

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In addition to his organizing and policy work, Joe is an emerging thought leader on structural liberty, institutional democracy, and the future of civic infrastructure in America. His writing and commentary have been featured in advocacy circles, and he is currently developing a strategic communications platform under the banner “Nobody Listens to Me Anyway…”, amplifying insights from the frontlines of democracy.