Joseph Sandler

Who is Joseph Sandler?

Joseph Sandler is a Washington, D.C. attorney who served as in-house general counsel for the Democratic National Committee from 1993 to 1998 and continued in this role at his firm Sandler, Reiff & Young through 2009. He now serves as an adviser to prominent Democrats, state parties, and progressive organizations, such as Moveon.org.

Sandler shepherded the Democratic National Committee through massive change, including multiple leadership changes, and the implementation of the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act, that Sandler famously referred to as a "fascist monstrosity" and accurately predicted would result in the national parties' loss of influence.

Sandler was born in 1953 in Baltimore MD, graduated summa cum laude from Harvard College in 1975 and cum laude from Harvard Law School in 1978. He served as counsel for the 1996, 2000, 2004 and 2008 Democratic National Conventions; for the Democratic Governors Association; and through his law firm, for numerous Democratic state party committees and Democratic and progressive advocacy groups, PACs and candidates. During Sandler’s tenure at the DNC, he defended several prominent Democrats and Democratic groups during controversies over alleged improprieties in fundraising and cooperation with 527 groups.