Kailee Buller

Kailee Buller is an Auburn native and former federal agriculture official running as the Republican and Conservative nominee against Rep. John Mannion. She served as Chief of Staff to Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins from January 2025 until February 2026, after leading two food-industry trade associations. Her campaign is centered on affordability, energy costs and agriculture.[1][2][3][4][5][6]

Buller was born in Auburn, New York, where she grew up in a blue-collar family. According to her campaign website, her father worked 41 years as a correctional officer at Auburn Correctional Facility and her mother is a nurse.[1][2] She earned a bachelor's degree from the University at Buffalo, a B.A. in political science according to USDA, and describes herself as the first in her family to earn a four-year degree. CNYCentral reported that she graduated in 2011 and moved to Washington, D.C., shortly afterward to work at a nonprofit.[3][2][5]

During the first Trump administration, Buller served as Chief of Staff to the Deputy Secretary of Agriculture and in other leadership roles at USDA. She has also served as President and CEO of the National Oilseed Processors Association and the Edible Oil Producers Association.[3] Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin appointed her as the 8th Congressional District representative on the Virginia Board of Agriculture and Consumer Services.[3]

In January 2025, Buller became USDA Chief of Staff to Secretary Brooke Rollins; her campaign website describes the role as overseeing a $200 billion operation with 100,000 employees. She left the department on February 19, 2026.[4][2] She won the uncontested June 23, 2026 Republican primary, according to NBC News. Her campaign website says she lives with her husband, Eric, and their three young children, and that she is running to restore affordability, strengthen public trust and put Central New York families first.[6][2]

Researched from the cited sources on 2026-10-21.