Steve Elmendorf

Who is Steve Elmendorf?

Steven A. Elmendorf, a lobbyist in Washington, D.C., was a senior advisor to House Democratic Leader Dick Gephardt for 12 years, serving as his chief of staff after 1997. Elmendorf was also deputy campaign manager for U.S. Senator John Kerry, the 2004 Democratic nominee for president.

He, along with Republican Jack Oliver as his business partner, was previously president at Bryan Cave Strategies L.L.C., a lobbying firm connected with the law firm, Bryan Cave LLP.

Elmendorf later founded Elmendorf/Ryan LLC a government relations and strategic counseling firm he owns along with Jimmy Ryan which represents corporations, trade associations and non profit organizations. Elmedorf/Ryan employs an "all-star team of Democratic revolving-door lobbyists . . . including former top aides to Democratic floor leaders Harry Reid, Dick Gephardt, Steny Hoyer and Nancy Pelosi."

He has been a frequent guest on television talk shows including Hardball with Chris Matthews, CNBC’s Capitol Report, Fox News and CNN’s Crossfire. He has lectured at the Institute of Politics at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government and at his alma mater, Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut. Elmendorf is openly gay.