Tommy Hopper

Tommy Hopper founded the Republican front group Free Enterprise Coalition (FEC) in 1998.

He served as FEC Chairman until resigning in September 1999 to "help lead" the Tennessee Republican Victory Committee, a political action committee, "to campaign against tax reform and target pro-tax legislators for defeat." Hopper said that "The best way to stop higher taxes is to defeat those legislators who vote for them." 

Hopper also founded GOP Marketplace, which was involved with the 2002 election "phone jamming" case in NH.

In 2001, Hopper was described as a member of the Board of Directors and Executive Vice President of GOPmarketplace.com. 

Hopper currently serves as President and CEO of The Hopper Company and President of Margin of Victory Partners LLC, a Tennessee-based political campaign services firm.

Republican Party operative
Hopper's pedigree is straight-line Republican Party. 

The Hopper Company
In 1993, Hopper founded The Hopper Company, which "provides general consulting services, direct mail, government affairs and is engaged in three e-commerce ventures" and "has served political and corporate clients in 17 states." 

"The Hopper Company’s clients have included Phillip Morris, Microsoft, Direct Impact, Century Strategies, the Health Benefits Coalition, the Century Council, the Republican National Committee, the National Republican Senatorial Committee and dozens of Republican candidates and state parties." 

To this client list, The Hopper Company, with offices in Jackson, Tennessee; Memphis, Tennessee; and Richmond, Virginia, adds Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, The Business Roundtable, and the Sikorsky Corporation. 

Other Republican affiliations
Hopper has also served as:


 * Political Director, Republican National Committee during 1997
 * Southern Director, Republican National Committee under then RNC Chairman Haley Barbour
 * Chair of the Tennessee Republican Party during the 1992 election cycle and Executive Director of the Tennessee Republican Party for six years prior to becoming chair.


 * Hopper served as Chairman 1991-92 and Executive Director 1987-91.


 * Note: Hopper's "tenure was described by veteran Capitol Hill reporter Tom Humphrey, 'Hopper has had more influence on state politics the last few years than anyone outside state government, and more than most inside.'"


 * Served as "an advisor to the campaigns and committees" of Presidents George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush, Haley Barbour, Senator Fred Thompson, Senator Bill Frist, Senator George Allen, the late Senator Paul Coverdell, former [Virginia] Governor Jim Gilmore and dozens of local and legislative candidates."
 * Co-directed the Republican National Committee Campaign Management College

Hopper was also president of Campaign Systems of America, an "internet incubator for the business of politics". 

Thomas B. Edsall wrote January 13, 1999, in the Washington Post that Hopper, at "the urgings" of Claire Bawcom, "a vice president of the Tennessee Federation of Republican Women", addressed the Council of Conservative Citizens, which "promotes the views of its leaders and prominent members – a number of whom are strong believers in the preservation of the 'white race'."

Anti-tax activist
Hopper "successfully defeated attempts by three governors to pass tax increases, while being outspent ten-to-one." 

Contact Information
Web: http://www.hoppercompany.com/ Web: http://hoppersretort.com/ (blocked access) Web: http://www.marginofvictory.com/

Related SourceWatch Resources

 * Republican 'culture of corruption'