John Leganski

John G. Leganski is an American lobbyist, former political staffer, and author. He is best known for his Capitol Hill career working for former Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy.

Early life and education

Leganski grew up in Darien, Illinois.[1] He earned his bachelor's degree from Stanford University in 2013 where he was a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity.[2]

Career

From April to June 2011, Leganski interned in the office of the House Republican Whip, then held by Representative Kevin McCarthy.[3] He was initially unpaid.[4] After graduating from Stanford, Leganski returned to the Whip's office as a staff assistant.[5] He held various roles working for McCarthy between 2013 and 2023, ultimately serving as his deputy chief of staff and managing floor operations from January to October 2023, including during the January 2023 speaker's race and the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023.[6][7]

Leganski left Congress when McCarthy resigned. In January 2024, Leganski became a lobbyist with Harbinger Strategies.[8][7]

In June 2026, Leganski published a memoir, Glory, Grief, and the Gavel: An Inside Guide to Running for Speaker of the House. The book details his time working for McCarthy, sharing stories from McCarthy's campaigns to be Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives.[9][5] The book includes detailed accounts of McCarthy's campaign for the speakership, including conversations between President Donald Trump and numerous Members of Congress,[10] with Matt Gaetz what Roll Call dubbed the "chief antagonist".[4]

References

  1. ↑ Pengelly, Martin (2026-07-07). "'Hakeem Jeffries' office is sweating': Ex-GOP speaker's aide predicts leftwing pressure for Democrats". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2026-07-10.
  2. ↑ "Frats consider ways to keep parties manageable". 2012-12-04. Retrieved 2026-06-19.
  3. ↑ "John Leganski - Harbinger Strategies LLC (Jan. 2023-), Partner - Biography | LegiStorm". www.legistorm.com. Retrieved 2026-06-19.
  4. 1 2 Heller, Nina (22 June 2026). "A staffer's guide to winning and losing the speakership". Roll Call.
  5. 1 2 "New book by McCarthy aide details the moment when Rep. Mike Rogers appeared to lunge at Matt Gaetz on House floor - CBS News". www.cbsnews.com. 2026-06-19. Retrieved 2026-06-19.
  6. ↑ "Inside McCarthy and Gaetz's Feud — and McCarthy's Pleas for Democrats' Help". NOTUS. 2026-06-17. Retrieved 2026-06-19.
  7. 1 2 Sherman, Jake (3 January 2024). "Top McCarthy aide lands at Harbinger". Punchbowl News.
  8. ↑ Giorno, Taylor (January 5, 2024). "Lobbying World: Former McCarthy deputy chief heads to Harbinger Strategies". The Hill.
  9. ↑ "The book that's riling House GOP leadership". Punchbowl News. Archived from the original on 2026-06-16. Retrieved 2026-06-19.
  10. ↑ Karni, Annie (2026-06-18). "McCarthy Aide's Tell-All Book Recounts Trump's Expletive-Filled Threats to G.O.P." The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2026-06-21.
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