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Eliza Massaro
FOUNDER & PRESIDENT
For over 27 years, Eliza built a successful career in sales and management, mastering the art of leadership, strategy, and communication. But like so many, 2016 was a turning point—one that propelled her into the world of politics.
Determined to make a difference, Eliza joined the Avon, CT Democratic Town Committee (DTC) in 2018 and in 2021, she was elected chair. She worked spearheading campaigns, mentoring candidates, and gaining hands-on expertise in the intricate world of political strategy. That same year, she attended the prestigious Campaign School at Yale, an experience that crystallized her vision for the future.
Shortly after, Eliza founded 818 Political, a firm dedicated to electing passionate, qualified Democrats—particularly women—who are ready to lead. Her mission is clear: to increase representation at all levels of government and ensure that every candidate she works with has the tools, strategy, and confidence to win.
Now more than ever, Eliza is committed to helping you turn your vision into victory. Whether you’re stepping into the political arena for the first time or ready to take your campaign to the next level, she and 818 Political are here to guide you every step of the way.
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Mary Francois
LEAD CONSULTANT
Mary comes to 818 with a varied background working with political campaigns and nonprofits. A native Midwesterner and erstwhile Southerner, Mary has worked with Democrats running in red states and districts in fundraising roles, as campaign manager and even as a candidate’s wife. She does not recommend the latter. A founding board member of AWAKETN, originally a PAC based in Nashville, she has supported women in finding their political voices, learning to bring about change within the political system and advocate for themselves and the legislation that serves them. After moving to the Northeast nearly a decade ago, Mary aimed to put politics on the back burner, but soon found herself involved in her adopted hometown of Weston as a member of the Conservation Commission and of the Weston DTC. She wouldn’t have it any other way.
A recovering trial lawyer, Mary holds a J.D. from the University of Iowa College of Law, a B.A. in English from the University of Iowa and is a proud graduate of the Campaign School at Yale.
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Anna Szekeres
RESEARCH & STRATEGY SPECIALIST
A daughter of the “City of Brotherly Love,” Anna spent her childhood in the Philadelphia area before coming to Connecticut as a teenager. It was in Connecticut, that she fell in love with grassroots civic engagement. She gained meaningful hands-on experience at the local, state, and federal levels assisting as a fellow and intern on multiple races across the state. When it came time to choose a university, Anna moved to Scotland to study International Relations at the University of St Andrews so that she could develop a broader outlook on life and politics. In 2021, she attended The Campaign School at Yale, where she was inspired to bring her attention back to the United States. She is determined and passionate about contributing to representation and civic engagement at all levels of government.