David McIntosh
Met at: Breakfast meeting in Washington, DC Met date: 2025-05-14 Role(s): Club for Growth Leader, Former Congressman, Education Reform Advocate Last interaction: 2025-05-14 (DC breakfast)
Contact Information
- Email: [Update if available]
- Phone: [Update if available]
Professional Background
- Leader at Club for Growth (conservative/libertarian political organization)
- Former congressman (served around 2001)
- Worked in the H.W. Bush administration
- Attended University of Chicago Law School
- Ran for Governor (state unspecified in transcript)
- Focuses on free-market principles: "lower taxes, less spending, less regulation"
- Self-describes his organization as "the libertarian kind of right wing of the Republican Party"
Personal Background
- Has a son (mentioned ordering something for his son)
- Splits time between Washington DC and Palm Beach
- Described as being "almost never" in DC, but was there for the entire week of the meeting
Key Insights & Working Style
- Values bipartisan collaboration when strategically useful (mentioned working with Democrats on crypto issues)
- Has created a mentorship system for young conservative leaders
- Believes strongly in school choice and Education Savings Accounts (ESAs)
- Prefers market-based solutions in education reform
- Practical in approach to policy implementation
- Strong faith component to his worldview (appreciated Gary's references to Christianity)
- Strategic networker and connector
Strategic Value
- Potential access to Michael Kratsios (Office of Science and Technology)
- Connection to Club for Growth fellowship and leadership development programs
- Links to conservative investors and education reform advocates
- Bipartisan connections through his crypto work
- Connection to Bo Hines (described as "the crypto guy" in the administration)
- Understands both policy and political sides of education reform
- Familiar with the charter school/education choice landscape
Current Projects & Initiatives
- Working on passing school choice legislation
- Running a fellowship program to develop conservative leaders
- Attempting to expand the tax credit scholarship program ($5 billion mentioned)
- Goal of converting all education funding to Education Savings Accounts (ESAs)
- Building a network of young conservatives (late 20s to 40s)
- Working on crypto policy with a bipartisan coalition
Potential Collaboration Areas
- Georgetown Day School 2.0 concept (expressed interest in collaborating)
- Alpha Schools integration with school choice initiatives
- Connection to the Trump executive order on AI in education
- Introduction to Ryan Dell (education consulting for homeschoolers)
- Connection to Nate Fisher and New Founding (invests in Christian and Conservative businesses)
- Access to fellowship program participants
- Partnership on faith-based education initiatives
Notable Quotes
"My goal would be... convert all funding in education to an ESA. So a parent decides if they want to stay in the public school because that's what they went to, they know it, they check it off. If they want something else, they choose that instead and all the money goes there."
"I think things succeed when you build things when they're actually God's plans and we're tapping into it. Everything that you've described defines it."
"I also think we always thought of it, they'd move the party back to the middle, and that'd be good for us. But I think you're right. Then we'd have to compete more."
"One of our best friends was a teacher in town...and she moved over to this company that was selling what they call the level test. But essentially, it would measure every kid in the classroom where they're at on four or five key subjects. And I wanted to adopt it as governor."
Introduced Connections
- Bo Hines - Trump administration crypto leader
- Greg Schultz - Democratic political strategist with moderate views
- Nate Fisher - New Founding investment group in Dallas
- Ryan Dell - Education consultant targeting homeschoolers
- Ty Strong - Young person he mentors
Notes
David McIntosh appears to be a highly connected political figure with deep interests in education reform, particularly market-based approaches like school choice and Education Savings Accounts. His background spans government service, politics, and policy advocacy, with a current focus on developing the next generation of conservative leaders.
His enthusiasm for the Georgetown Day School 2.0 concept suggests he sees value in creating alternative education models that align with conservative/traditional values while incorporating advanced educational technologies. His split time between DC and Palm Beach creates opportunities for connections in both locations.
The relationship has immediate strategic value for access to administration officials working on the AI in education executive order, particularly Michael Kratsios. Longer-term value includes potential funding connections, policy advocacy for education innovation, and access to a network of young conservative leaders.
Follow-up should focus on the dinner plans discussed during the meeting and specific next steps for the Georgetown Day School 2.0 concept and introduction to Michael Kratsios.
Transcripts
| Transcript ID | Date | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-05-14-david-mcintosh-club-for-growth-breakfast | 2025-05-14 | David McIntosh Club for Growth Breakfast Meeting |
| 2025-05-15-gary-sheng-samuel-armes-david-mcintosh-nav-singh-2025-05-15 | 2025-05-15 | DC restaurant meeting discussing Trump World, faith-based politics, crypto trading, and education reform strategies |