About Us
Hancock & Prouty is a full-service political consulting, research, communications, and public affairs firm. Founded in 2017 by Missouri GOP veterans John Hancock and Jonathon Prouty, we specialize in developing and implementing winning communications and political strategies through the use of research and relationships with community leaders and members of the media.
John Hancock’s political experience spans three decades in grassroots and electoral politics. He is a former state legislator, was the GOP nominee for Missouri Secretary of State in 1992 and 1996, served as executive director for the Missouri Republican Party from 1997 to 2003, and operated a public affairs and political and corporate consulting business for 12 years. In 2015, Hancock was elected to a two-year term as Chairman of the Missouri Republican Party.
Under his leadership, Missouri Republicans made historic progress. While Hancock served as Executive Director, the state GOP gained seats in the US House, US Senate, won majorities in the State House and State Senate and recaptured the Governor’s Office. In 2016, under his leadership as Chairman, Missouri Republicans made a historic sweep of statewide offices and maintained super-majorities in the General Assembly.
Hancock specializes in campaign strategy & leadership, candidate & issue research, government relations, public opinion surveys, fundraising, event planning, public relations and issue management. He has served as chief strategist for numerous local, statewide, and national campaigns. Hancock has also developed and implemented fundraising activities for clients ranging from presidential campaigns, the Republican National Committee, The Missouri Republican Party and numerous non-profit clients.
Currently, Hancock co-hosts the weekly “Hancock and Kelley” television program on KTVI-Fox 2 in St. Louis with Democrat Michael Kelley. Hancock and Kelley are also frequent radio hosts on KMOX-AM 1120 in St. Louis.
John is married to his wife, Georgann. They have two children —John, Jr., and Mary Kathryn.
Hancock is a nationally-renowned ragtime pianist and composer, performing concerts and lectures throughout America. His compositions have been recorded by himself and others. In 2013, John was elected to the National Collegiate Debate Hall of Fame.
With more than twenty years of experience spanning campaign management, communications, speechwriting, research, and event operations, Jonathon Prouty is a political operative who gets results.
Prouty is widely regarded for his expertise as an opposition researcher and communicator. He has researched more than seven hundred targets in more than 40 states, shaping messaging and decision-making from city council races to presidential campaigns.
During the 2024 cycle, Prouty served as an advisor to Mike Kehoe’s successful campaign for Missouri governor. After the election, Prouty & Hancock were tapped to plan and execute Governor Kehoe’s inauguration, which consisted of more than a dozen events spread over two days and attended by thousands of supporters. Missouri Scout later judged the inauguration “flawless.”
Prouty’s steady leadership was on display in 2015, when he was appointed Executive Director of the Missouri Republican Party. He was tasked with restoring the credibility and financial security of the state GOP at a time when the organization was demoralized, divided, and saddled with a six-figure debt. Working with then-Chairman John Hancock, Prouty steered the party through the historic 2016 election cycle, paying off the debt and overseeing an election year budget of more than $6 million.
For his efforts, Prouty was named a “Game Changer” by the Missouri Times, which declared: “Prouty and the Republicans secured the biggest triumph in the Missouri Republican Party’s modern history on election night: a clean sweep of the statewide races, control of the Missouri Senate, and another super majority in the Missouri House.”
Previously, Prouty worked as a political researcher for a Columbus-based media firm, as Communications Director for the Missouri Republican Party, and as a communications associate with John Hancock & Associates.
Before graduating from Webster University in St. Louis, Prouty interned in the White House Office of Presidential Speechwriting under President George W. Bush.
Prouty and his wife, Amanda, reside in Jefferson City.
Services
Our team knows that your campaign has one goal in mind: winning. With decades of experience drafting campaign plans and strategies, assembling high quality campaign teams, providing data analysis to develop campaign messaging, and supervising campaign operations for candidates and issue campaigns, Hancock & Prouty share your goal and understand how to achieve it.
During their lengthy careers in Missouri politics, Hancock & Prouty have built relationships with grassroots activists, grasstops influencers, and policy leaders throughout the state. We develop and manage effective programs that identify, inspire and mobilize real people to achieve measurable results.
Hancock & Prouty offers nationally recognized candidate and opposition research services to candidates ranging from city council to the United States Senate. Our accurate, detailed, and analytical research has provided the foundation for messaging and strategy in hundreds of political campaigns across the country.
With decades of experience in political communications, Hancock & Prouty have established strong relationships with state and national reporters, and we have an unparalleled understanding of how media works. Our team specializes in providing public relations and communications services for our clients, including earned and paid media, media training, and speechwriting. If you are faced with a crisis, our team has managed “textbook” campaigns to weather the storm and rebuild your reputation.
Hancock & Prouty has developed and executed memory-making special events for state and national organizations, celebrities, and the President of the United States. Whether it was helping with the largest-grossing fundraising event in Missouri GOP history, coordinating 13 events for thousands of people during Governor Mike Kehoe’s inauguration, or providing memorable experiences for Missouri’s delegation at several Republican National Conventions, Hancock & Prouty has earned a reputation for creative direction and precise execution.
Hancock & Prouty can help your company navigate state and federal government issues. We work with your government relations team—or we serve as your government relations team if you don’t have one—to advance your political and public relations goals by building relationships between clients and elected officials, creating a corporate presence with elected legislative and executive branch officials, assisting with passage of legislative objectives, and advising on contribution strategies.