Soren Dayton

Bio

Soren Dayton is the Director of Governance at the Foundation for American Innovation, where he leads work on strengthening American governing institutions. He has spent two decades at the intersection of politics and policy, with a focus on institutional reform and legislative capacity. His work has been featured in outlets such as the Washington Post, New York Times, and National Review, and he has testified before Congress on ways to improve the effectiveness of government. Prior to FAI, he directed governance initiatives at the Niskanen Center and Protect Democracy. He also served as a legislative assistant to Rep. Nick Smith (R-MI), where he worked on foreign policy, science policy, and budget issues.

Soren has worked on a number of high-profile campaigns and political initiatives, including Senator John McCain’s 2008 presidential campaign, and served as Executive Director of the Young Republican National Federation. In addition to his political work, he has advised advocacy groups, corporations, and public affairs firms on strategy and communications. He holds an A.B. in Anthropology and Mathematics from the University of Chicago. He was a 2023–2024 Democracy Fellow at the Center for Effective Government at the University of Chicago and a 2016-2017 Penn Kemble Fellow at the National Endowment for Democracy. Earlier in his career, he co-founded a software company and spent 18 months in India with his wife working for International Justice Mission to combat labor trafficking.