The Outperform Team

We’re a hands-on campaign management shop with experience winning statewide, congressional, judicial, state legislative and municipal campaigns—as well as ballot measures and independent expenditures.

Eric Hyers

Eric Hyers is one of the country’s most successful campaign managers, with more than a decade of experience electing Democrats to statewide and federal office in tough states. He managed winning congressional campaigns for David Cicilline (RI-01, 2012 and 2010), and successful gubernatorial wins for Gina Raimondo (RI, 2014) and Steve Bullock (MT, 2016). In 2019, Eric managed Andy Beshear’s successful gubernatorial bid against Republican incumbent Matt Bevin in Kentucky. In 2020, Eric served as the Michigan State Director for the Biden for President campaign and in 2023 guided Governor Andy Beshear to re-election by more than five points. Since he first started managing congressional and gubernatorial races in 2010, he has not lost a general election.

Nicole Kayner

Nicole Kayner is an experienced communication and messaging professional who has handled debate and interview prep programs and speechwriting for multiple statewide and federal candidates. She served as communications director for Gina Raimondo’s successful campaign to become Rhode Island’s first woman governor. She was the senior communications advisor for Andy Beshear’s winning campaigns for governor in both 2019 and 2023, a role in which she oversaw interview and debate prep programs for Governor Andy Beshear and Lieutenant Governor Jacqueline Coleman. Nicole works with candidates and organizations on message development and media preparation.

Colin Lauderdale

Colin Lauderdale is a veteran campaign manager with experience in congressional, senate, and gubernatorial races. A lifelong Kentuckian, Colin was a key member of the 2019 coordinated campaign that elected Governor Andy Beshear, and subsequently managed Charles Booker’s primary challenge against Amy McGrath for U.S. Senate in 2020, coming within a few points of a shocking upset. After a stint in Montana for Steve Bullock’s senate campaign, he served as campaign manager for now-Rep. Morgan McGarvey’s (KY-03) primary and general election victories in 2022. In 2023, he was the deputy campaign manager for Governor Andy Beshear’s successful re-election campaign.

The Outperform Team is proud to have led the re-election effort of Kentucky’s Democratic governor Andy Beshear. Learn more: