Gilmore, GOP Hire New Staff

The Virginia Republican Party and GOP Senate candidate James S. Gilmore III are both beefing up their communications staffs in preparation for the fall elections.

State Party Chairman John Hager announced today that Josh Noland will be the party's new communications director.

Noland, who replaces Sean Kenney, used to work for Mitt Romney's presidential campaign.

He also served for three years as Director of Communications for U.S. Representative Randy Neugebauer (R-Tex.). Prior to his work in House, Noland spent two years in the Bush Administration as Press Assistant at the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Meanwhile, Gilmore has hired Ana Gamonal as his communications director. Prior to joining Gilmore's campaign, Gamonal was a consultant in Washington.

Gamonal is also a former Bush administration official, having worked for the State Department between 2001 and 2003. In 2000 and 2001, she worked for the Republican National Committee.

Gamonal got her start in politics in the 1990s as press secretary and legislative assistant for U.S. Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R-FL).