Justin Buoen

Before launching his new consulting firm, the KBO Group, Justin served as the national campaign manager for Senator Amy Klobuchar’s 2020 Presidential Campaign. In that role, he oversaw all aspects of the campaign, from establishing and implementing strategy to fundraising, policy development and communications. Justin’s first major project at the KBO Group was to serve as a Senior Advisor to the Democratic National Committee helping to elect President Joe Biden in battleground states.

Prior to leading Klobuchar’s campaign, Justin helped open and lead the Midwest division of New Partners Consulting, a national political and corporate consulting firm. As a consultant, he worked with a variety of clients outside the realm of politics, including Xcel Energy, the Miami Dolphins, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences—which annually hosts the Oscars—and Green Minneapolis. He was also a member of the 2018 Super Bowl Bid Committee that successfully obtained hosting rights for Minneapolis.

Justin is also a veteran of city, congressional, gubernatorial and other presidential campaigns. Some of his past Minnesota clients include Governor Tim Walz and Governor Mark Dayton. He is a longtime adviser to Senator Klobuchar and that association includes the position of campaign manager for her reelection to the U.S. Senate in 2012. Justin is a regular guest speaker at the Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota. He has debated at the prestigious Oxford Union in England, lectured at the Yale Politics Initiative, the Harvard Kennedy School and also appeared on national television and radio as a political analyst and commentator or spokesperson.

Justin is a graduate of the University of St. Thomas with a degree in political science. He is active in the Twin Cities volunteer community. In addition to his work on the Hennepin Theater Trust Board, he serves on the M Health Fairview Foundation Board and is on the advisory board of the Sanneh Foundation. He also works with local youth sports programs. Justin lives in Arden Hills with his wife, Linh, sons Phillip, Roger and Henry.