Lance Dutson, the former insurgent-style blogger who became one of the state’s top Republican operatives, has launched a new political consulting firm in Portland. 

Dutson, along with Mike Leavitt, the former chief of staff for the Republican National Committee, are now heading up Red Hill Strategies and Cyber Policy, a partner organization focusing on the digital delivery of policy briefs from advocacy groups to state lawmakers.   

Dutson most recently worked as the campaign manager for Republican U.S. Senate candidate Charlie Summers, who finished second to current U.S. Sen. Angus King, I-Maine. Prior to that he was the chief executive officer for the Maine Heritage Policy Center, a conservative advocacy group. He also served as communications director for former House Speaker Rep. Robert Nutting, R-Oakland, and was a spokesman for the Maine Republican Party.  

Leavitt began his political career with former U.S. Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine. He later became the deputy national political director for the presidential campaign of Sen. John McCain. 

Leavitt is a graduate from the University of Maine. He earned his MBA at Husson College in Bangor.