With help from Daniel Lippman
Former JD Vance aides are slowly but surely filling the ranks of K Street firms, growing the vice president’s fundraising and policy apparatus ahead of a potential 2028 White House campaign, Alex reports.
— Three members of Vance’s staff have departed for private practice in the last two months. Sean Cooksey, the vice president’s former chief legal and policy adviser, left for BGR Group. Jim Durrett, former deputy chief of staff for operations, went to Invariant. Wesam Hassanein, former special adviser on the Middle East, went to Continental Strategy. Cooksey worked for Vance since the start of the second term. Durett and Hassanein joined his office last May. PI has previously reported the moves.
— The three former Vance aides had previous public service careers — Hassanein worked at the State Department since 2018 and was a detailee to Vance’s team, Cooksey served as commissioner and chair of the Federal Election Commission after he was nominated by Trump in 2020, and Durrett was a longtime GOP Senate staffer.
— “The vice president’s outside network is small, but they are experienced and fiercely loyal,” said a person close to Vance’s team, granted anonymity to discuss sensitive topics. “Whatever he does, you can expect Vance alumni to jump into action to support him.”
— When former President Joe Biden ran in 2020, he had a massive network of lobbyists who worked for him during his lengthy political career, from the Senate to the vice president’s office. By contrast, when Kamala Harris — another former vice president with a relatively short Washington career — became the Democratic nominee in 2024, lobbyists rushed to get to know her world.
— They’re staying close to the White House and want the administration to succeed,” the person close to Vance’s team said.
— “Vice President Vance has been in politics for several years, but is very new to Washington and has a very young staff. His connective tissue and relationships are still being nurtured and cultivated,” said Michael LaRosa, a partner at Ballard Partners. “The plane is still being built inflight, which is not dissimilar to the path his boss charted when he first ran.”
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FIRST IN PI — MINDSET ELEVATES TOP TALENT: Bipartisan public policy consulting firm Mindset has promoted Kendra Isaacson and Charlie Schreiber, both principals at the firm, to partner. Isaacson leads the firm’s retirement practice, while Schreiber focuses on financial services and housing policy. Mindset’s clients range from payment companies like Visa, PayPal and Stripe to major tech and telecom companies like Meta and Verizon.
— Before joining Mindset in 2023, Isaacson worked on pensions, tax and economic issues for the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions and former Chair Patty Murray (D-Wash.). Schreiber joined the firm in 2021 after several years on the Hill, where he served as senior counsel to the House Committee on Financial Services under then-ranking member Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.).
— Isaacson and Schreiber said they look forward to pushing the firm’s bipartisan work on retirement, housing and financial services forward, working with the Senate Banking Committee and other congressional offices. “I don’t remember a time where you’ve actually been able to see a more bipartisan time, and being at Mindset, I think it’s our perfect time to continue to flourish,” Schreiber told PI.
VERSANT’S NEW HIRE: Versant Media Group, the cable broadcaster that spun off from NBCUniversal last year, has hired its first outside lobbying firm, according to a newly filed disclosure report.
— Though best known as the parent company of MS NOW, Versant’s first lobbying outing is focused on its sports properties, which include USA Sports and the Golf Channel. The company hired trAction Strategic on March 1 to lobby on “legislative proposals and oversight relating to sports broadcasting.” The firm’s founder, Dan Dukes, will handle the account.
— Dukes founded trAction in 2023 after spending more than 18 years leading government affairs for radio giant iHeartMedia. His hiring comes less than a month after Versant appointed Jonathan Kott as its senior vice president of government affairs, indicating a swift start to the spinoff’s Washington operations.
ANTHROPIC LOBBIES UP: Artificial intelligence startup Anthropic is bolstering its presence on K Street, according to a new disclosure. The company hired Ballard Partners last month to lobby on issues related to Pentagon procurement, per a registration filed Friday. The newly inked contract comes as Anthropic is battling the Trump administration’s attempt to label its products a supply chain risk.
— In addition to Trump world lobbying powerhouse Brian Ballard and seasoned lobbyist Sylvester Lukis, the company also hired former Trump administration official Micah Ketchel — who joined the firm as a partner in November after serving as a senior adviser at the National Security Council — to lobby on its behalf.
— Anthropic has been building its presence in Washington in recent months, launching a new PAC to let its employees donate to political candidates earlier this month and retaining a number of formidable lobbying firms since the fall. The AI startup hired a roster of former Republican Hill staffers and administration officials at GOP lobbying firm Navigators Global in February, and it launched a new think tank dubbed the Anthropic Institute last month.
LEGAL EAGLE’S ROCK ‘N’ ROLL DREAMS SQUASHED: The Kennedy Center rejected an attempt by Elliot Berke, the performing arts center’s top lawyer, to book his own cover band at the facility’s jazz-themed Speakeasy last fall, Daniel L. reports. Outside of the Kennedy Center, Berke represents a number of high-profile GOP politicians, including former Speaker Kevin McCarthy and House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.), and does legal work for 80s musical acts like Asia and Night Ranger.
— A Kennedy Center official denied that Berke ever tried to book his band at the Speakeasy, and Berke had no comment. But POLITICO viewed evidence that the lawyer — who plays guitar — did in fact try to get his band to play at the venue.
FLYING IN: The Plastics Industry Association and the American Chemistry Council are hosting their joint legislative fly-in in Washington this week. Plastics manufacturers, recyclers and suppliers will meet with lawmakers and administration officials to advocate for fair and predictable trade policy, accelerating recycling and circular manufacturing, and reinforcing the industry’s role in U.S. manufacturing.
— Plus, nonprofit group Engine Advocacy & Foundation is bringing a group of startup founders to Washington for a policy fly-in focused on early-stage innovation this week. The founders will meet with congressional offices and agency officials to discuss capital access issues, including acquisition pathways and federal innovation programs.
— And roughly 600 real estate finance professionals will be in Washington tomorrow and Wednesday to meet with lawmakers on issues including the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, credit reporting and scoring costs, and mortgage credit. They’ll hear from Reps. French Hill (R-Ark.) and Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) and Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) tomorrow at the Mortgage Bankers Association’s National Advocacy Conference.
SPOTTED last night at the Omni Shoreham Hotel for the 2026 Belfast-Beltway Boxing Classic, per a tipster: Christopher Rendo, incoming U.S. consul general in Belfast, Chyanne Holmes, deputy director of the Northern Ireland Bureau, Paul Wilson of the Northern Ireland Bureau, Manny Quinn, president of the Belfast-Beltway Boxing Project, Shawn Coughlin, vice president of the Belfast-Beltway Boxing Project, Eric Silva of North South Government Strategies, Ben English of Accenture, Reilly O’Connor of the Lincoln Park Group, Christian Bolden of The Bolden Group, Tim Curry of Stryk Global Diplomacy, Billy Tranghese of Platinum Advisors, Patrick Lyden of CurrentStrategic, Topher Cushman of Coldwell Banker, Jack Cline of Northeastern University, Patrick Robertson of Confluence Government Relations, Reilly Lamp of Sen. Kevin Cramer’s (R-N.D.) office and Ryan Sandmann of the Laborers’ International Union of North America.
— Gavin Proffitt has joined AbbVie as director of federal government affairs. He most recently served as a health policy adviser to Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.).
— Retired Navy Rear Adm. Terrance McKnight has joined SMI as a senior adviser. He previously served as the commandant of Naval District Washington and later served as senior vice president of government relations for Cobham Advanced Electronic Solutions.
— Kerry Hotopp has joined Akin as senior counsel in the firm’s government contracts practice. He joins the firm from the Department of the Navy, where he served for more than 17 years including most recently as counsel for strategic systems programs.
— Adrienne Wojciechowski has joined The Coca-Cola Company as director of federal and diplomatic relations. She most recently served as assistant secretary for congressional relations at the Department of Agriculture.
— Halie Craig has joined Invariant as a senior director. She is an alum of Sen. Ted Cruz’s (R-Texas) office and most recently served as a principal at Origin Advocacy.
— ML Strategies, the consulting affiliate of Mintz, has hired Traci Vitek as a senior vice president. She most recently served as the director of federal health policy at Guidehouse.
— Mischa Martin has joined AxAdvocacy as a principal in the firm’s new Arkansas office. She is an alum of the state’s Department of Human Services and most recently founded and operated SHIFT Consulting.
— Hailey Miller is now senior director of regulatory and government affairs at Hut 8. She most recently served as executive director of the Digital Power Network.
Dakota-Wild And Wonderful 2026 Committee (Dakota PAC, Wild And Wonderful PAC)
Eric Flores Victory Fund (Eric Flores For Congress, NRCC, Operation Secure Texas PAC)
Bilzerian Victory Fund (PAC)
Bronx Unity (Super PAC)
Driving America Now PAC AKA DANPAC (Leadership PAC: Dan Bilzerian)
Future Predict INC. (Super PAC)
Humanity Above Artificial Intelligence PAC (Hybrid PAC)
Lead Maine Committee, Inc. (Super PAC)
Market Freedom PAC Inc. (Super PAC)
National Small Business United Political Action Committee (PAC)
Philly First Super PAC (Super PAC)
Accelerate Strategies: Pacific Coast Council of Customs Brokers and Freight Forwarders Association Inc.
ACG Advocacy: Alliance For a Better Future
Advanced Energy Advisors: Safe Alliance
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld: SNF Holding Company
Armer Public Affairs: Armer Public Affairs
Ballard Partners: Anthropic, PBC
Ballard Partners: Integrate DG, LLC
Ballard Partners: Proyecto de Empresarios por Mexico
Beltway Guided Strategies: Teradar
BGR Government Affairs: Affirm, Inc.
BGR Government Affairs: Blue Coral Inc.
BGR Government Affairs: Delcath Systems, Inc.
BGR Government Affairs: Montana Health Solutions, Inc.
BGR Government Affairs: Nuvation Bio Inc.
BGR Government Affairs: Open Policy Association
BGR Government Affairs: Swiss Bankers Association
BGR Government Affairs: Utah City
BGR Government Affairs: Verity Instruments, Inc.
Blank Rome Government Relations: U.S. GoldMining Inc.
Blue Marble Strategy LLC: The Science and Conservation Center
Bramer Group LLC: Burke Aerospace
Bramer Group LLC: Kingsway Industries
C2 Strategies: Actus Advanced Systems
Capitol Tax Partners, LLP: Saltchuk Resources, Inc.
Cassidy & Associates, Inc.: Erebus
Cassidy & Associates, Inc.: Seerist
Cgcn Group, LLC: Hedera Hashgraph, LLC
Crowell Global Advisors: GKN Powder Metallurgy, Inc.
Daugherty Strategies LLC: Mac Spurlock
Daugherty Strategies LLC: Matt Geouge
DIGITALEUROPE: DIGITALEUROPE
Dudley Strategies: PartWorks, LLC
Frontera Group: Bravo Ordnance
Groom Law Group, Chartered: Instride
Harborpoint Strategies LLC: Pantheon Data
Holland & Hart LLP: Compass Global
Holland & Knight LLP: Glencore Ltd.
Innovative Federal Strategies, LLC: Apeiron Labs
Invariant LLC: Aeolus Labs
Invariant LLC: Sedron Technologies, LLC
King & Spalding LLP: University of Southern California
Klein/Johnson Group: Skyryse
Mizuho Americas Services LLC: Mizuho Americas Services LLC
Natalie Framsted D/B/A Natalie Framsted: Venture Global on behalf of The Partnership For Safe Medicines
Navigators Global LLC (Formerly DC Navigators, LLC): Trellix Public Sector LLC
Pearson34 Consulting: Alabama School of Healthcare Sciences Foundation
Poblete Tamargo, LLP: Garry Brandon
Poblete Tamargo, LLP: Judith Brandon Smolensky
Poblete Tamargo, LLP: Leslie Brandon
Poblete Tamargo, LLP: Todd Brandon
Revere Federal Strategies: ATX Defense
Snyder Gressard Strategy: Natural Resource Defense Council Action Fund
Snyder Gressard Strategy: Resources Legacy Fund
Splitoak Strategies LLC: United States of Care Campaign
Squire Patton Boggs: Airports For The USVI
Squire Patton Boggs: Ontic Technologies, Inc.
Stinson LLP: City of Oak Point
The McManus Group: Venture Medical
The Wayfinder Group: City and County of Honolulu
Thorn Run Partners: University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Tiber Creek Group: Jeppesen Foreflight
Traction Strategic: Action Now Initiative
Traction Strategic: Versant Media Group
Tsg Advocates Dc, LLC: HeyTutor Inc
Tyler Rotundo D/B/A Tyler Rotundo: Venture Global on behalf of The Partnership For Safe Medicines
Ascend Consulting: National Military Family Association
BGR Government Affairs: BlackSea Technologies
BGR Government Affairs: Charles River Laboratories
BGR Government Affairs: Western Digital Corporation
Bracy Tucker Brown & Valanzano DBA Brown & Associates: Childhelp USA
Bramer Group LLC: Kongsberg Maritime Incorporated
Cassidy & Associates, Inc.: Project Biosecurity, Inc
Cassidy & Associates, Inc.: The Trustees of The University of Pennsylvania
Clark Street Associates: Ionq Inc.
Clark Street Associates: Vulcanforms, Inc.
Diroma Eck & Co. LLP: Golden Asia Capital, Ltd.
Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP: The Rehabilitation Innovation Centers Coalition
FGS Global (US) LLC (FKA FGH Holdings LLC): Arnold Ventures
FGS Global (US) LLC (FKA FGH Holdings LLC): MSGN Holdings L.P.
FGS Global (US) LLC (FKA FGH Holdings LLC): The Procter & Gamble Company
Focus DC LLC: Revolution Corporate Services, Inc.
Forbes-Tate: Assured Guaranty Municipal Corp.
Forbes-Tate: Zenwork Inc.
Glenn Delaney: Blue Water Fishermen’s Association
Guidepost Strategies, LLC: Southern Company
Holland & Knight LLP: Astranis Space Technologies Corp.
Holland & Knight LLP: Clark Street Associates on Behalf of IonQ, Inc.
Holland & Knight LLP: Zum Services, Inc.
Invariant LLC: Pacific Steel Group, LLC
J.A. Green and Company (formerly LLC): Magpul Industries Corporation, Inc.
Kairos Government Affairs: Merc Aerospace
Kairos Government Affairs: North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association
Mercury Public Affairs, LLC: Adriatic Sea Dis Tic Ltd. Sti L.P
Mercury Public Affairs, LLC: Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation
Mercury Public Affairs, LLC: Estar Partners
Mercury Public Affairs, LLC: RSL Investment Corporation
Polsinelli PC: American Association Of Oral And Maxillofacial Surgeons
Polsinelli PC: Association Of Academic Physiatrists
Polsinelli Pc: National Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association
Smart Policy Group: Arkea Bio Corp.
Smart Policy Group: IHI Americas
SR Partners LLC: Community Impact Advisors on behalf of Kuakini Health Systems
SR Partners LLC: Urban Sustainability Directors Network
Tiber Creek Health Strategies, Inc.: Amgen, Inc.
Tiger Hill Partners LLC: Navient Solutions, LLC
Tiger Hill Partners LLC: Opportunity Financial
Traction Strategic: Arnold Ventures
WT Energy LLC: Rewiring America Inc.
