Justine Sarver

Justine Sarver has been fighting for progressive causes since long before the start of her professional career fourteen years ago. She has spent the last few years working for the election and transition of President Obama, and most recently served as Deputy Chief of Staff in the office of Secretary Sebelius at the Department of Health and Human Services. As the Southwest Regional Director at the Obama for America campaign headquarters, Sarver oversaw campaign activities for many states including Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, Maine, Washington, and Oregon.

Sarver was intensely involved with ballot initiative campaigns in California, beginning in 1996. While Director of Organizing at the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California – the country’s largest ACLU affiliate – she led her second battle against parental notification in California, defeating Proposition 85 with a broad-based coalition. Sarver served for five years at Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California as Vice President and Political Director. In that role, she led the first successful campaign against parental notification (Proposition 73). Prior to her work at Planned Parenthood, Sarver was the Political Director for the San Diego Labor Council, AFL-CIO.

Justine is a proud native of the Detroit area and graduate of the Ferndale Public Schools. Sarver received a bachelor’s in history from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor. Justine assumed the role of Executive Director of Ballot Initiative Strategy Center in April 2010.