Mary Isenhour
Mary P. Isenhour is a senior partner at Rooney Novak Isenhour Group, a government relations and strategic planning firm. She brings more than 30 years of leadership experience in government, public affairs, strategic communications, and political management at the state and national levels.
Her public service includes senior leadership roles in the administration of Governor Tom Wolf, where she served in the Governor’s Cabinet as Secretary of Legislative Affairs and as Chief of Staff. She also served as a senior advisor to Governor Wolf’s campaign and transition team and co-chaired his 2015 inaugural committee.
From 2019 to 2023, Mary served as the first woman appointed to the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, following nomination by Governor Wolf and confirmation by the Pennsylvania Senate. In that role, she contributed to the oversight of a major statewide public agency and its policy, operational, and public service responsibilities.
In 2022, Mary was named to Governor Josh Shapiro’s Government Operations Transition Team, where she helped develop recommendations to improve the delivery of government services. In 2023, she advised Mayor Cherelle Parker’s campaign and served on the Mayor’s transition team.
Mary’s prior roles include Executive Director of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party, Pennsylvania State Director for Hillary Clinton’s 2008 presidential primary campaign, senior advisor to Governor Ed Rendell, and senior advisor to Pennsylvania House Democratic Leader Frank Dermody. From 2010 to 2014, she was a partner at Isenhour Rooney Strategies.
In 2006, Mary led a successful coordinated campaign effort that helped secure victories for Governor Rendell, Senator Bob Casey, four new members of Congress, and a Democratic majority in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.
Mary began her public affairs career in Kansas, serving as Communications Director and later Chief of Staff to the House Majority Leader. She subsequently served as National Political Director at the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee and Executive Director of the Pennsylvania House Democratic Campaign Committee.
She has been consistently recognized among leading Democratic operatives, including by City & State Magazine’s Pennsylvania Power List.
Mary has presented at numerous progressive and Democratic Party conferences and workshops. She has also taught at Dickinson College and lectured at the University of Pennsylvania, Central Penn College, and the Washington Center. Her civic and nonprofit service includes board roles with Planned Parenthood and EqualityPA.
Mary resides in suburban Harrisburg with her husband, Bill Patton.
