Margaret Gladstein

As a partner at Capitol Advocacy, Margaret brings over 25 years of political and public policy experience, providing clients with unique expertise and repeated success both advocating for legislation and blocking or amending harmful measures.

Margaret is recognized as one of Sacramento’s premier lobbyists on a variety of business issues. She has worked on privacy and consumer protection legislation for clients in the technology, retail, financial services/fintech, and other industries. As one of California’s privacy policy experts, she has been a featured speaker at the National Conference of State Legislatures and the National Retail Federation.

Margaret has also worked with clients in the clean energy, electric and autonomous vehicle, entertainment industries on pivotal issues facing the state. She has built and led numerous successful coalitions on a variety of legislative issues. Margaret has been instrumental in negotiating on behalf of clients engaged in California’s green economy, including working on energy policy and clean transportation issues. She understands the complex dynamics between California’s environmental justice, labor, and business communities, and effectively negotiates with all of these groups to achieve positive outcomes on behalf of her clients.

Prior to joining Capitol Advocacy, Margaret served as the chief consultant of the California State Assembly Banking and Finance Committee, where she developed and analyzed legislation related to financial services, privacy, data security, and corporate governance. She started her career at Bain and Company and also worked in the financial services industry. Margaret’s understanding of issues from both the public and private sector gives her a unique perspective which helps her clients navigate the California State Legislature, the administration, and the regulatory arena.

Along with her extensive policy background, Margaret also strategically advises clients on how to navigate California’s ever-changing political landscape. For more than a decade, Margaret served as a campaign consultant for statewide initiatives and legislative candidates throughout the West. During this time, Margaret was recognized as a “Rising Star” and won several Pollie Awards from the American Association of Political Consultants for her work on campaigns.

A native of Oklahoma, Margaret graduated with honors from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. She and her husband Tim enjoy traveling, especially to visit their daughter who is a successful public relations professional in New York City.