# Charles “Chuck” Winner

> Charles “Chuck” Winner was the founder and historical president and CEO of Winner & Associates, a Los Angeles public affairs and strategic communications consultancy founded in 1975. His career began in Democratic politics, included work for Pat Brown and John F. Kennedy, and expanded into ballot-measure campaigns and international corporate counsel. A Thoroughbred owner, he served on the California Horse Racing Board from 2012 to 2019 and became its chairman in January 2014. He died on March 24, 2022, aged 81.

- **Role:** Public affairs consultant, political campaign strategist, communications executive and Thoroughbred owner
- **Organizations:** Winner & Associates, Winner & Mandabach Campaigns, Winner Consulting Inc., Cerrell Winner and Associates, California Horse Racing Board, The Jockey Club, California Retirement Management Account
- **Education:** John Marshall High School, Los Angeles, University of California, Los Angeles
- **Known for:** Founded Winner & Associates in 1975 and remained president and CEO following its 2000 majority acquisition by Publicis., Led the Publicis side of the 2007 issues-response alliance with Akin Gump., Elected chairman of the California Horse Racing Board, effective January 6, 2014.

## Career timeline

- **1958** — Worked on Pat Brown’s California gubernatorial campaign.
- **1960** — Left UCLA to join John F. Kennedy’s political advance team after the Democratic convention.
- **1965–1966** — Served as Southern California secretary and travel secretary to Governor Pat Brown.
- **1966–1969** — Founder and partner at Cerrell Winner and Associates.
- **1969–1975** — Consulted on local, state and federal campaigns.
- **1975** — Founded Winner & Associates; a gubernatorial appointment biography also dates his founding of Winner Consulting Inc. to 1975.
- **1985** — Founded Winner and Mandabach Campaigns as a partner, according to the 2015 gubernatorial appointment biography.
- **1986** — Became involved in horse racing, according to his 2013 CHRB biography.
- **2000** — Publicis acquired a majority interest in Winner & Associates; Winner continued as president and CEO.
- **2006** — USC Gould announced a discussion of his ballot-measure work and his criticism of the initiative process.
- **2007** — Named chief manager for Publicis in a cross-border issues-response alliance with Akin Gump.
- **2009** — Spoke at Dentsu’s February 9 Global Issue Management Seminar in Tokyo.
- **2012** — Appointed to the California Horse Racing Board by Governor Jerry Brown.
- **2013–2014** — Elected CHRB chairman in December 2013, taking office January 6, 2014.
- **2015** — Reappointed to the CHRB.
- **2019** — Completed his second CHRB term on July 26; elected to The Jockey Club in August.
- **2022** — Died March 24 at age 81.

## Achievements

- Founded Winner & Associates in 1975 and remained president and CEO following its 2000 majority acquisition by Publicis.
- Led the Publicis side of the 2007 issues-response alliance with Akin Gump.
- Elected chairman of the California Horse Racing Board, effective January 6, 2014.
- Elected to The Jockey Club in August 2019.
- Co-owned Magical Fantasy, winner of four Grade 1 races, with David Bienstock and Paul Mandabach.

## Latest updates

- **2022-03** — The CHRB announced Winner’s death on March 24, 2022, aged 81.
- **2019-08** — The Jockey Club announced his election as one of six new members.
- **2019-07** — Completed his second term on the California Horse Racing Board after deciding not to seek reappointment.

## Links

- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charles-winner-07298518

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/charles-chuck-winner
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-21