John Brabender is a political consultant who mostly advises Republicans but, has also advised Democratic candidates including Democrat Tom Knox, who ran for Philadelphia mayor. He earned a degree in from Gannon University and an MBA from Cleveland State University. Brabender has been dubbed 'political guru' to Rick Santorum's political career. Bradender worked five of Santorum's Pennsylvania congressional races, starting with his first House bid in 1990 and ending with his failed Senate re-election campaign in 2006.