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 privacy and data security issues for clients in the technology, retail, financial services/fintech, and other industries. She was engaged in the nation’s landmark privacy law, the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) of 2018 and continues to work on the CCPA and other privacy issues, advocating for businesses’ ability to collect, retain, and utilize customer information. 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. In addition, she handles a wide array of other policy areas and has led numerous successful coalitions on legislative issues. 

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 give her a unique perspective which helps her clients navigate the California State Legislature, the administration, and the regulatory arena. Margaret has been instrumental in negotiating on behalf of clients engaged in California’s green economy, including working on California energy policy issues and the Zero Emission Vehicle program. 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. 

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 lives in Sacramento with her husband Tim and their daughter.

.