National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Pete Sessions (Texas) announced the committee’s political team for the 2012 cycle Thursday morning.

Political Director Mike Shields, who led the committee’s independent expenditure arm during the 2010 cycle, and Deputy Political Director Brock McCleary, who served as Northeast political director at the NRCC during the 2010 cycle, will lead the team.

Two regional political directors are also staying with the committee. Chris Carr will continue as political director for the West but will add the Southeast to his portfolio, and Lee Padilla, who served as second-in-command for the West and Midwest at the NRCC during the 2010 cycle, will handle the central West.

Two of the regional political directors are new to the committee. John Rogers, a veteran of New York campaigns, will oversee the Northeast, and David Watts, who worked for the National Association of Realtors and for Illinois Rep. Bobby Schilling’s campaign during the 2010 cycle, will oversee the Midwest.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has also hired its political staff. Kelly Ward, who handled incumbent retention for the committee during the 2010 election cycle, will lead the Democrats’ team.