Washington, D.C. – The Republican National Lawyers Association (RNLA) is pleased to announce that its ninth annual Robert J. Horn Chairman’s Award was bestowed upon renowned election lawyer Gineen Bresso during the 24th National Election Law Seminar in Nashville, Tennessee on August 16, 2025.
The Robert J. Horn Chairman’s Award is presented to individuals in grateful recognition for their exceptional contributions to protect the honesty and accuracy of elections on behalf of the citizens of the United States of America. It is presented in honor of the late Founding Chairman, who succeeded in significantly advancing election integrity throughout his professional lifetime by founding and promoting the RNLA.
RNLA Chair Lee Goodman stated: “From her service on the Election Assistance Commission and in key positions in Congress, presidential campaigns, and now the White House, Gineen Bresso's career has been principled and purposeful. Gineen has devoted her career to strengthening American democracy and we are grateful for her service.”
RNLA President Michael Thielen added: “I have known Gineen for more than 20 years, most of those working with her or allied with her on election integrity issues. Whether Gineen was working on a campaign or for the government, she was a fierce advocate for integrity and transparency in our electoral process. Gineen truly helped make it easier to vote and harder to cheat. Gineen works tirelessly and is the ultimate ‘team’ player. This recognition is long overdue.”
Gineen Bresso currently serves as Deputy Counsel to the President. Prior to joining the second Trump administration’s White House Counsel office, she served as Election Integrity Counsel for the Trump Campaign and the Director of the RNC’s Election Integrity Department during the 2024 cycle. She also previously served as Outside and Special Counsel to the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on House Administration, General Counsel to the White House Office of Administration, General Counsel to the 58th and 60th Presidential Inaugural Committee, Counsel to the Committee on Arrangements for the 2016 Republican National Convention. In 2008, she was nominated to serve as a member of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission and confirmed in the U.S. Senate by unanimous consent. She served as Chair of the Commission in 2009.
Bresso began her legal career serving as a law clerk to the Honorable Arrie W. Davis of the Maryland Court of Special Appeals. Bresso graduated with honors from Western New England University School of Law, where she was a member of the Law Review, and received her Bachelor of Arts degree with honors from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Past recipients of the Chairman’s Award are Stefan Passantino (2024), Chris Marston (2023), Bilenda Harris-Ritter (2022), Justin Riemer (2021), Harvey Tettlebaum (2020), Anne Lewis (2019), Ron Hicks (2018), and Manuel Iglesias (2017).
RNLA is the national organization of Republican attorneys. The mission of RNLA is to advance professionalism; open, fair, and honest elections; career opportunity; and Republican ideals. For more information, please visit: http://www.rnla.org.
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