Gage Schmid

A seventh-generation East Tennessean and 2024 graduate of Boston University, Gage Schmid is a political campaign manager, strategist, and organizer with experience leading campaigns and building winning political operations across Tennessee and beyond. Since entering politics during the 2018 midterm elections, he has worked on campaigns at every level—from municipal and school board races to congressional and statewide campaigns—specializing in campaign management, strategic communications, field organizing, fundraising, digital strategy, and data-driven voter outreach.

Before founding Forge + Field Strategies, Gage served in leadership roles with the Tennessee Democratic Party, managed coordinated field programs, advised candidates across East Tennessee, and helped build grassroots operations that mobilized thousands of volunteers and reached hundreds of thousands of voters. His experience also includes work on campaigns for Gloria Johnson for U.S. Senate, Michelle Wu for Mayor of Boston, Chris Pappas for Congress, Ayanna Pressley for Congress, and political research at Purple Strategies.

In 2026, Gage managed Beau Hawk's campaign for Knox County Mayor, overseeing one of the largest grassroots operations in county history. The campaign mobilized more than 1,300 volunteers, knocked 25,000+ doors, made 43,000+ phone calls, sent 77,000+ text messages, and raised more than $230,000 from over 2,500 grassroots donors, ultimately delivering the strongest Democratic performance in a countywide Knox County race in decades.

That same year, Gage also managed the campaign that elected Brandy Jenkins to the Knox County Board of Education, flipping a longtime Republican-held district despite being outspent more than five to one. The victory secured a Democratic majority on the Knox County Board of Education and demonstrated the power of disciplined organizing, authentic messaging, and a people-first campaign.

Today, through Forge + Field Strategies, Gage partners with candidates, organizations, and causes to build disciplined, people-powered campaigns rooted in strategy, trust, and authentic organizing. His philosophy is simple: the strongest campaigns don't just win elections—they earn trust, build lasting organizations, and leave communities stronger than they found them.