Services & Solutions
We are a full-service government relations and advocacy company with the experience, knowledge, and relationships necessary to help you achieve your political objectives.
Lobbying
Effective lobbying requires an understanding of the process, the policy, and the players. We possess the experience and knowledge to connect all three.
Capitol Advocacy represents clients before the State Legislature, the Governor’s Office, state agencies and departments, and regulatory boards and commissions. In addition to decades of lobbying experience, we have worked as senior staff in the State Assembly, State Senate, and in the Executive Branch. Our experience navigating each of these is second to none.
We also focus on knowing the policy and the politics. It’s not enough just to show up and advocate. We believe it’s important to develop an intimate understanding of the issues we work on — and we accomplish that across a broad array of policy areas, ranging from healthcare to high-tech and education to the environment. We also realize that politics shapes every issue and we are keenly aware of the background, the dynamics, and the objectives of each elected official.
Our team works year-round to build relationships that are critical to shaping policy in Sacramento. That means we are always positioned to connect with the right people at the right time, no matter the issue or the policymaker.
By mastering the process, understanding the policy and politics, and possessing relationships with key players in Sacramento, the Capitol Advocacy lobbying team helps clients win — whether there’s a crisis, a high-profile battle, a legislative or regulatory need, or an interest to protect behind the scenes.
Budget Advocacy
We have spent years working the intricacies of the budget maze and are widely respected by long time budget staffers and key decision makers in leadership offices and the administration. Capitol Advocacy is an expert in the budget process, and knows how to best advise its clients to be successful in advancing or opposing a budget deal.
California’s budget process is an ever-changing maze of moving parts. The State suffers from excessive demands on limited resources, institutes complex and cumbersome funding formulas, and mandates sometimes unrealistic and detrimental requirements on its contractors and private partners.
The budget process happens quickly and sometimes very quietly behind closed doors. That’s why there’s no one better to advocate for you than Capitol Advocacy. Whether fighting to secure funding or defending against budget cuts, we work with our clients to manage the state budget process every step of the way, and to find creative solutions to budget challenges.
Coalition Building
Whether advocating for legislation or trying to stop a bad bill, building a broad-based coalition helps to increase our client’s success. That’s why at Capitol Advocacy we focus intensely on building the right support network for the most effective lobbying effort.
We work with a broad array of advocates — from business leaders and environmental activists to community groups, labor, trade associations, consumer, patient and provider organizations, grassroots organizers and local elected officials. It is our long-term relationships with these groups that help to bring advocacy partners to a coalition and make our legislative efforts successful.
In each coalition, we use our understanding of California’s political landscape to assemble an effective team of messengers, give them the tools they need to communicate the right message, and then deploy them to achieve our clients’ goals.
Whether leading or working with a coalition, we understand the importance of identifying the right messenger to deliver the most effective message to a policy maker.
Strategic Planning
It’s always better to prevent a crisis than be confronted with one. That’s why our lobbyists work with clients to develop strategic plans that anticipate threats and highlight opportunities.
We understand the impact of, and constantly gauge, which issues are most likely to be at the forefront of each legislative session. This allows us to protect our clients against potential threats by staying ahead of the game, anticipating change, responding to legislation, and crafting administrative solutions to move their agendas forward.
Cookie-cutter strategies don’t work in California. The state’s political environment requires not only strategic planning, but creative thinking to break through the noise and make sure the message is heard by the relevant decision makers. We believe in a tailored approach for each client and each issue.
We view ourselves as an ongoing partner with our clients, sharing their focus on meeting strategic objectives and achieving long-term success.
Political Involvement
California’s political landscape shifts on a near-daily basis. We help our clients effectively navigate the constant shifting resulting from each election cycle and the changes that happen in between those cycles. Understanding how the political currents are shifting can enable you to effectively navigate the landscape.
We believe it’s not enough to simply throw money into the political process. We strive to make our clients’ participation strategic and meaningful. That means using political action to increase our clients’ visibility, make progress toward strategic goals, and build the right relationships for long-term benefit.
In each election, we evaluate the key legislative races and the most critical ballot initiatives, and advise our clients on how and when to participate. We also develop a comprehensive strategy every four years when the voters of California decide on the eight statewide Constitutional offices and four state Board of Equalization offices.
In the most recent election cycle, Capitol Advocacy assisted our clients in thoughtfully deploying several million dollars in political contributions to candidates and statewide ballot measure committees.
Even for clients with no political budget, we provide ongoing updates and strategic advice about the political environment and how it will impact their ultimate goals.
Procurement
California government spends billions of dollars annually on goods and services, making it a market ripe with opportunity. However, accessing those contracting opportunities is challenging due to complex procurement rules and policies, the state’s ever-changing budget situation, and the nuances of politics in the overall process. Capitol Advocacy’s familiarity with these challenges uniquely positions us as one of the most experienced firms in helping clients successfully contract with California.
We are constantly searching for opportunities for our clients to do business with the state, even before such opportunities are formally announced. We will work with you to develop a comprehensive procurement lobbying strategy tailored to your specific needs. We will craft a bid development and provide guidance on bid protests, if needed. Throughout the process, we work diligently to strengthen your relationships with key state officials.
We have successfully represented companies in areas including: corrections, education, healthcare, information technology, and transportation. By taking a multi-faceted approach, anticipating threats, and capitalizing on opportunities, Capitol Advocacy is well-equipped to accomplish your procurement goals.
